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閥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閥fáclique, valve; a powerful and influential groupzg, 14 strokes, radical 門
fá(fa2)fa T2
  1. 1clique, valve; a powerful and influential group
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March 24, 2026

閥fá(fa2)

The character 閥 (fá) primarily refers to a powerful and influential group or clique, often in a political context. It can also denote a valve, particularly in mechanical or engineering contexts. The nuance of the word suggests exclusivity and control, typically in the context of social or political dynamics.

Strokes14Radical門
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of a 'clique' (閥) is significant, especially in politics where factions can influence leadership and decision-making. Historical dynasties often had powerful families or factions that shaped the course of history.

Memory tip

Imagine a grand gate (閥) with a special lock that only a select few can open. This gate symbolizes the exclusive access of a powerful clique. The pronunciation 'fá' sounds like 'far,' as in 'far removed from the average person,' highlighting the separation between the elite and the rest.

Meanings of 閥

fá(fa2)
1clique, valve; a powerful and influential group
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 閥

閥Simplified
14Strokes
門Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閥

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Podcast: 閥

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AI study notes for 閥

Quick Contrast

阀 (valve) refers specifically to a mechanical device for controlling fluid flow, while 閥 (fá) emphasizes the social or political aspect of an influential group.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 閥 (fá) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This term is more formal and is commonly used in political discourse. Common collocations include '权力閥' (quánlì fá), meaning 'power clique.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 閥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its character structure can be helpful for understanding other characters related to governance and power. Focus on recognizing this character's use in contexts discussing political or social hierarchies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 閥 (fá) with 阀 (tuó), which means 'valve' in a mechanical sense. Always remember that 閥 relates to social power, whereas 阀 refers to a physical device.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閥

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Etymology of 閥

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

gate

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

Origin

閥 = 門 + 伐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 閥

IDS Structure⿵門伐
閥Full character
=
門men2
enclosing
伐fa2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 閥?

How to say clique, valve; a powerful and influential group in Chinese

“clique, valve; a powerful and influential group” in Chinese is閥fá

The character 閥 (fá) primarily refers to a powerful and influential group or clique, often in a political context. It can also denote a valve, particularly in mechanical or engineering contexts. The nuance of the word suggests exclusivity and control, typically in the context of social or political dynamics.

When to use 閥

Be careful not to confuse 閥 (fá) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This term is more formal and is commonly used in political discourse. Common collocations include '权力閥' (quánlì fá), meaning 'power clique.'

閥 or something close to it

阀 (valve) refers specifically to a mechanical device for controlling fluid flow, while 閥 (fá) emphasizes the social or political aspect of an influential group.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 閥 (fá) with 阀 (tuó), which means 'valve' in a mechanical sense. Always remember that 閥 relates to social power, whereas 阀 refers to a physical device.

Write 閥

閥

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

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Word Family of 閥

Words containing this character10
阀fáclique閥
阀门fáménvalve (mechanical)閥門
军阀jūnfájunta軍閥
安全阀ānquánfásafety valve安全閥
财阀cáifáplutocracy財閥
门阀ménfárich and powerful family門閥
北洋军阀běiyángjūnfáthe Northern Warlords (1912-1927)北洋軍閥
节流阀jiéliúfáa throttle節流閥
奉系军阀fèngxìjūnfáFengtian clique (of northern warlords)奉系軍閥
皖系军阀wǎnxìjūnfáAnhui faction of Northern Warlords 1911-c.1929皖系軍閥
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 閥

What does 阀 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 閥

In a political context, 閥 refers to a powerful and influential group that holds significant sway over decisions and policies.

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