Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蝙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝙biānbatn, 15 strokes, radical 虫, rank #67961, Very Hard
蝙biānalso pr. [bian3]unknown, 15 strokes, radical 虫, rank #67961, Very Hard
biān(bian1) T1
  1. 1bat
  2. 2also pr. [bian3]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蝙biān(bian1)

The character 蝙 (biān) refers to a 'bat,' a flying mammal known for its nocturnal habits and ability to use echolocation. In Chinese, this character is often used in both scientific contexts and in cultural references, such as folklore and traditional symbolism, where bats are considered symbols of good fortune and happiness.

Strokes15Radical虫Frequency#67961DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bats are often associated with good luck and happiness due to the homophonic relationship between the word for bat (蝙蝠, biānfú) and the word for fortune (福, fú). This association makes bats a common motif in art, especially during festivals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bat flapping its wings, and think of the 'bi' in 'biān' as the sound it makes when it flies by. The character 蝙 visually includes the radical 虫 (insect) suggesting its nature as a flying creature, while the 'bi' sound connects to the creature's quick movements.

Meanings of 蝙

biān(bian1)
1bat
2also pr. [bian3]
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝙

蝙Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蝙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蝙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bat flapping its wings, and think of the 'bi' in 'biān' as the sound it makes when it flies by. The character 蝙 visually includes the radical 虫 (insect) suggesting its nature as a flying creature, while the 'bi' sound connects to the creature's quick movements.

Usage Notes

When using 蝙, ensure you are clear on the context as it can sometimes be confused with related terms like 龍 (lóng, dragon) in folklore. It is typically informal, suitable for conversation about animals or in cultural discussions. Be cautious with pronunciation; it can be mispronounced as 'bian3' which is incorrect in this context.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蝙 is not commonly found in HSK lists, it complements vocabulary related to animals and nature in HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing the character in context, as well as related words like 蝙蝠 (biānfú, bat).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, bats are often associated with good luck and happiness due to the homophonic relationship between the word for bat (蝙蝠, biānfú) and the word for fortune (福, fú). This association makes bats a common motif in art, especially during festivals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝙 with similar characters or mispronounce it as 'bian3.' For example, saying 'bian' instead of 'biān' alters its meaning and can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝙

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蝙 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蝙

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 扁 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

insect

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)扁
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蝙?

Decomposition of 蝙

IDS Structure⿰虫扁
蝙Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
扁bian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝙?

Write 蝙

蝙

Practice writing 蝙 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 蝙

蝙 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 4

Complete the Sentence

我一看到____蝠就把门闩上了。

I had bolted the door the instant I had seen the bat.

Example Sentences for 蝙 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我一看到蝙蝠就把门闩上了。

wǒ yī kàn dào biān fú jiù bǎ mén shuān shàng le。

I had bolted the door the instant I had seen the bat.
2
狗 、 猫和蝙蝠都可能携带狂犬病病毒.

gǒu、 、 māo hé biān fú dū kě néng xié dài kuáng quǎn bìng bìng.

Dogs, cats and bats can all carry rabies.
3
价值数百万英镑的《蝙蝠侠》的衍生产品

jià zhí shù bǎi wàn yīng bàng de《 《 biān fú》 xiá 》 de yǎn shēng

millions of pounds' worth of Batman merchandising
4
像杰克·尼科尔森这样的巨星，单从《蝙蝠侠》一部片子中就赚了5亿美元，是不太可能受影响的。

xiàng jié kè· · ní kē ěr sēn zhè yàng de jù， xīng ，《 dān cóng 《》 biān fú xiá 》 yī bù piàn zǐ5 zhōng jiù zhuàn， le 5 yì měi yuán ， shì bù tài。

Megastars like Jack Nicholson, who made $500 million from Batman alone, are unlikely to be affected.

Cultural Notes for 蝙

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, bats are often associated with good luck and happiness due to the homophonic relationship between the word for bat (蝙蝠, biānfú) and the word for fortune (福, fú). This association makes bats a common motif in art, especially during festivals.

Word Family of 蝙

Words Containing This Character2
蝙蝠bat
蝙biānbat
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蝙蝠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝙

The correct pronunciation is biān, with the first tone.