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苯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
苯běnbenzene, benzoln, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #10998, Very Hard
苯běnbenzol (chemistry)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 艹, rank #10998, Very Hard
běn(ben3) T3
  1. 1benzene, benzol
  2. 2benzol (chemistry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

苯běn(ben3)

苯 (běn) refers to benzene, a fundamental organic chemical compound known for its distinct aromatic properties. Commonly used in chemical industries, its structure forms the basis for many synthetic materials, making it significant in both scientific and practical contexts.

Strokes8Radical艹Frequency#10998DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, knowledge of chemical compounds like 苯 is important in discussions about environmental issues, particularly concerning pollution and health risks associated with industrial chemicals.

Memory Tip

Think of 苯 (běn) as a 'ben' (short for benzene) that 'bends' in a ring shape, resembling its molecular structure. The radical '艹' (grass) at the top can remind you of the natural origins of many chemical compounds.

Meanings of 苯

běn(ben3)
1benzene, benzol
2benzol (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 苯

苯Simplified
8Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 苯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 苯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 苯

Usage Notes

苯 is used primarily in scientific and technical contexts, so it's best employed in formal discussions or written texts. Be cautious of the tone: it is pronounced with a third tone (běn), which can be easily confused with similar-sounding words in Mandarin.

HSK Study Tips

Although 苯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for students interested in chemistry. Focus on the pronunciation and context of use, as well as how it relates to other chemical terms such as 化学 (huàxué) meaning chemistry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 苯 (běn) with other similar-sounding characters. For example, confusing it with 本 (běn), which means 'book' or 'origin.' Always remember that 苯 relates specifically to benzene in a scientific context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 苯

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Etymology of 苯

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 本 represents the sound.

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)本
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 苯

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 本 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half本 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 苯? 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 苯?

Decomposition of 苯

IDS Structure⿱艹本
苯Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
本ben3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 苯?

How to say benzene, benzol in Chinese

“benzene, benzol” in Chinese is苯běn

苯 (běn) refers to benzene, a fundamental organic chemical compound known for its distinct aromatic properties. Commonly used in chemical industries, its structure forms the basis for many synthetic materials, making it significant in both scientific and practical contexts.

When to use 苯

苯 is used primarily in scientific and technical contexts, so it's best employed in formal discussions or written texts. Be cautious of the tone: it is pronounced with a third tone (běn), which can be easily confused with similar-sounding words in Mandarin.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 苯 (běn) with other similar-sounding characters. For example, confusing it with 本 (běn), which means 'book' or 'origin.' Always remember that 苯 relates specifically to benzene in a scientific context.

Write 苯

苯

Practice writing 苯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 苯

苯 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 2 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 5

Complete the Sentence

氨基甲酸____酯除莠剂是发展最早的一种除莠剂.

Phenylcarbamate herbicides were among the earliest herbicides developed.

Example Sentences for 苯 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
氨基甲酸苯酯除莠剂是发展最早的一种除莠剂.

ān jī jiǎ suān běn zhǐ chú yǒu jì shì fā zhǎn zuì zǎo de yī zhǒng chú yǒu jì.

Phenylcarbamate herbicides were among the earliest herbicides developed.
2
其他可用的固定剂有苯偶姻或安息香等含油树脂.

qí tā kě yòng de gù dìng jì yǒu běn ǒu yīn huò ān xī xiāng děng hán yóu shù zhī.

Other fixatives which may be used include the oleoresins such as benzoin, or styrax.
3
S - 三氮朵苯农药对农业生产变得越来越重要.

S- S - sān dàn duǒ běn nóng yào duì nóng yè shēng chǎn biàn dé yuè lái yuè zhòng.

S - Triazine pesticides are rapidly becoming of increasing importance to agriculture.
4
你怎么总是苯手笨脚的?

nǐ zěn mó zǒng shì běn shǒu bèn jiǎo de?

Why are you always all thumbs all fingers and thumbs?
5
胼胝质的染剂是苯胺蓝, 间苯二酚蓝和玫红酸.

pián zhī zhì de rǎn jì shì běn àn lán, , jiān běn èr fēn lán hé méi hóng.

Callose stains are aniline blue, resorcin blue and rosolic acid.
6
这一途径包括预苯酸的转氨基作用,形成预酪氨酸.

zhè yī tú jìng bāo kuò yù běn suān de zhuǎn ān jī zuò yòng, , xíng chéng yù lào ān.

This pathway involves the transamination of prephenate to form pretyrosine.
7
六亚甲基二异氰酸酯 ( HMDI ) 可用在预聚物中代替甲苯二异氰酸酯〔TDI〕.

liù yà jiǎ jī èr yì qíng suān zhǐ(HMDI) ( HMDI ) kě yòng zài yù jù wù zhōng dài tì jiǎ běn èr yì qíng suān〔TDI〕.

Hexamethylene diisocyanate ( HMDI ) may be used in prepolymer, in place of TDI.
8
预苯酸脱氢酶和预苯酸脱水酶都已从植物中分离出来.

yù běn suān tuō qīng méi hé yù běn suān tuō shuǐ méi dū yǐ cóng zhí wù zhōng fēn lí chū lái.

Both prephenate dehydrogenase and prephenate dehydratase have been isolated from plants.
9
适用于本法的酸酐有苯二甲酸, 马来酸及琥珀酸的酸酐.

shì yòng yú běn fǎ de suān gān yǒu běn èr jiǎ suān, , mǎ lái suān jí hǔ pò suān de suān.

Suitable anhydrides for use in this process include phthalic , maleic, and succinic.
10
过氧化苯甲酰 、 特别是偶氧二异丁腈不参加链移反应.

guò yǎng huà běn jiǎ xiān、 、 tè bié shì ǒu yǎng èr yì dīng jīng bù cān jiā liàn yí fǎn.

Benzoylperoxide, and especially azobisisobutyronitrile, do not take part in transfer reactions.

Word Family of 苯

Words Containing This Character17
苯běnbenzene
甲苯toluene C6H5CH3
苯甲酸benzoic acid C6H5COOH
苯酚phenol C6H5OH
聚苯乙烯polystyrene
二甲苯xylene
苯胺aniline C6H5NH2
苯环benzene ring (chemistry)苯環
苯乙烯Styrene
苯基phenyl group
硝基苯nitrobenzene
氯苯chlorobenzene C6H5Cl
苯丙胺amphetamine (medical)
苯甲醛benzaldehyde C6H5CHO, the simplest aromatic aldehyde
烷基苯alkyl benzene
多氯联苯PCB多氯聯苯
异丙苯(chemistry) isopropylbenzene C9H12 (aka cumene)異丙苯
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 苯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 苯

苯 is crucial as a basic building block in organic chemistry, used to create a variety of products including plastics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals.

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