unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #9405, Very Hard
芭
bā
banana
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #9405, Very Hard
bā(ba1) 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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Drill the tone of 芭 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 巴 represents the sound.
1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
2The sound half巴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 芭? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 芭?
Decomposition of 芭
IDS Structure⿱艹巴
芭Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
巴Ba1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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.
