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芭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
芭
bā
a plantain or banana palm
n, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #9405, Very Hard
芭
bā
a herb
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #9405, Very Hard
芭
bā
banana
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #9405, Very Hard
bā(ba1)ba T1
1a plantain or banana palm
2a herb
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March 24, 2026
芭bā(ba1)
The character 芭 (bā) refers primarily to the banana plant or palm, which is known for its large, broad leaves and edible fruit. It can also denote certain herbs in specific contexts. Commonly, it appears in discussions about tropical plants or in culinary references related to bananas.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#9405DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, bananas symbolize happiness and good fortune, often appearing in festive decorations and culinary dishes. The popularity of bananas in China also reflects the country's agricultural diversity and tropical regions.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant banana palm reaching up to the sky (the broad leaves resembling a fan) and think of the sound 'bā' as you picture the joyful act of picking ripe bananas. The character itself has a 'plant' radical (艹) at the top, symbolizing its connection to plants.
Meanings of 芭
bā(ba1)
1a plantain or banana palm
2a herb
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 芭 means.
About 芭
芭Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 芭
Podcast: 芭
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AI study notes for 芭
Usage Notes
When using 芭, learners should note that it is often combined with other characters to specify different types of bananas or related plants. It's generally informal and used in everyday conversations. Watch out for tone mistakes: 'bā' is in the first tone, so ensure it is pronounced with a high, level pitch.
HSK Study Tips
Although 芭 is not an HSK level word, learners at HSK 1-2 should focus on recognizing the radical 艹, which indicates plant-related vocabulary. Connecting it with other plant-related words will enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 芭 with similar-sounding words, such as 把 (bǎ), which has a completely different meaning. Make sure to use 'bā' when referring to banana plants, not 'bǎ'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芭
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 芭 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
芭 = 艹 + 巴. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 芭
IDS Structure⿱艹巴
芭Full character
=
艹cao3
top
巴Ba1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 芭?
How to say a plantain or banana palm in Chinese
“a plantain or banana palm” in Chinese is芭bā
The character 芭 (bā) refers primarily to the banana plant or palm, which is known for its large, broad leaves and edible fruit. It can also denote certain herbs in specific contexts. Commonly, it appears in discussions about tropical plants or in culinary references related to bananas.
When to use 芭
When using 芭, learners should note that it is often combined with other characters to specify different types of bananas or related plants. It's generally informal and used in everyday conversations. Watch out for tone mistakes: 'bā' is in the first tone, so ensure it is pronounced with a high, level pitch.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 芭 with similar-sounding words, such as 把 (bǎ), which has a completely different meaning. Make sure to use 'bā' when referring to banana plants, not 'bǎ'.
Write 芭
芭
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Practice writing 芭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 芭
芭 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
伦敦市____蕾舞团从波修瓦芭蕾舞团聘来了两名男舞蹈演员。
The London City Ballet has engaged two male dancers from the Bolshoi.
