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阀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阀fáclique, valve; a powerful and influential groupn, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14094, Very Hard
阀fápowerful individual, family or groupunknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14094, Very Hard
阀fá(loanword) valveunknown, 9 strokes, radical 门, rank #14094, Very Hard
fá(fa2) T2
  1. 1clique, valve; a powerful and influential group
  2. 2powerful individual, family or group
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

阀(閥)fá(fa2)

The character 阀 (fá) primarily refers to a powerful group or clique, often used in political contexts to describe factions within larger organizations. It can also mean 'valve' in mechanical terms, indicating its usage in engineering and technology. Understanding this character helps in recognizing dynamics of influence and authority in social and professional settings.

Strokes9Radical门Frequency#14094DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese politics, the concept of 阀 often reflects historical power struggles, where different factions vie for influence, reminiscent of the 'Warring States' period. This character encapsulates the complexities of authority and governance in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Think of 阀 (fá) as a 'faction' that controls the flow of power, similar to a valve that controls the flow of liquid. The top part of the character (阜) looks like a mountain, symbolizing the elevated status of those in power, while the bottom (刀) resembles a knife, signifying the sharp influence they wield.

Meanings of 阀

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阀

阀Simplified
閥Traditional
9Strokes
门Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阀

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Podcast: 阀

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AI Study Notes for 阀

Usage Notes

When using 阀, be cautious about context; it often carries a negative connotation of division or manipulation. Common collocations include '权阀' (quán fá - power clique) and '利益阀' (lì yì fá - interests group). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words and ensure correct tone to maintain clarity.

HSK Study Tips

While 阀 is not included in HSK levels, understanding it can enhance vocabulary related to social dynamics and politics, which is useful for learners at higher levels. Students should focus on its usage in context to grasp its nuances fully.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阀 with 阷 (fá) or similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, saying '这个阷很强' instead of '这个阀很强' is incorrect; remember that 阀 specifically refers to a clique or valve.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阀

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Etymology of 阀

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

gate

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 阀

  1. 1The meaning half门 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half伐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygate
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 阀? 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 阀?

Decomposition of 阀

IDS Structure⿵门伐
阀Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
伐fa2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阀?

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

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

The character 阀 (fá) primarily refers to a powerful group or clique, often used in political contexts to describe factions within larger organizations. It can also mean 'valve' in mechanical terms, indicating its usage in engineering and technology. Understanding this character helps in recognizing dynamics of influence and authority in social and professional settings.

When to use 阀

When using 阀, be cautious about context; it often carries a negative connotation of division or manipulation. Common collocations include '权阀' (quán fá - power clique) and '利益阀' (lì yì fá - interests group). Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words and ensure correct tone to maintain clarity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阀 with 阷 (fá) or similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, saying '这个阷很强' instead of '这个阀很强' is incorrect; remember that 阀 specifically refers to a clique or valve.

Write 阀

阀

Practice writing 阀 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 阀

阀 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 5

Complete the Sentence

进气____卡住了,关不上。

The intake valve was jammed open.

Example Sentences for 阀 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
进气阀卡住了,关不上。

jìn qì fá kǎ zhù le, , guān bù。

The intake valve was jammed open.
2
注样阀应无需润滑, 阀内要无 “ 死 ” 角.

zhù yàng fá yīng wú xū rùn huá, , fá nèi yào“ wú” “.

The valve should require no lubrication, and contain no " dead " volumes.
3
他换掉了坏阀门。

tā huàn diào le huài fá mén。

He replaced a dud valve.
4
锤击和标准阀杆耦合设计可用.

chuí jī hé biāo zhǔn fá gān ǒu hé shè jì kě yòng.

Hammer blow and standard valve stem coupling designs available.

Word Family of 阀

Words Containing This Character10
阀fáclique閥
阀门fáménvalve (mechanical)閥門
军阀junta軍閥
安全阀safety valve安全閥
财阀plutocracy財閥
门阀rich and powerful family門閥
北洋军阀the Northern Warlords (1912-1927)北洋軍閥
节流阀a throttle節流閥
奉系军阀Fengtian clique (of northern warlords)奉系軍閥
皖系军阀Anhui faction of Northern Warlords 1911-c.1929皖系軍閥
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 阀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阀

In addition to its political meaning, 阀 can refer to a valve in engineering, indicating its versatility in both social and technical discussions.

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