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伴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
伴
bàn
partner
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #3903, Very Hard
伴
bàn
companion
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #3903, Very Hard
伴
bàn
comrade
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #3903, Very Hard
伴
bàn
associate
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #3903, Very Hard
伴
bàn
to accompany
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #3903, Very Hard
bàn(ban4)ban T4
1partner
2companion
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March 24, 2026
伴bàn(ban4)
The character 伴 (bàn) primarily means 'to accompany' or 'to partner with.' It is commonly used in contexts involving companionship or partnership, such as in relationships, teamwork, or social interactions. The nuance of 伴 implies a sense of support and togetherness in various activities.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#3903DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of companionship is highly valued, often seen in social gatherings, family events, and traditional festivals where partnerships and companionship are celebrated.
Memory tip
Imagine a pair of friends, one holding a banner (伴 sounds like 'ban') together while walking. The character 伴 includes the radical for 'person' (人) on the left, symbolizing companionship, and the right side suggests a sense of togetherness or partnership.
Meanings of 伴
bàn(ban4)
1partner
2companion
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 伴 means.
About 伴
伴Simplified
7Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3903Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 伴
Podcast: 伴
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AI study notes for 伴
Quick Contrast
陪 (péi) vs 伴 (bàn): Use 陪 when emphasizing the act of accompanying someone for support or comfort, while 伴 focuses more on partnership or companionship in activities.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 伴 with similar words like 陪 (péi), which also means 'to accompany' but carries a more intimate connotation. 伴 is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Be careful with tone; the first tone can change the meaning dramatically.
HSK Study Tips
Although 伴 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful to recognize how it relates to other words at this level, such as 朋友 (péngyǒu - friend) and 同伴 (tóngbàn - companion). Focus on using 伴 in sentences to describe social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 伴 with 伴随 (bànsuí), which means 'to accompany' in a more passive sense. A wrong example is saying '我伴随你去' when you mean '我伴你去' (I will accompany you), which sounds overly formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伴
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 伴 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
伴 = 亻 + 半. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 伴
IDS Structure⿰亻半
伴Full character
=
亻ren2
left
半ban4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 伴?
How to say partner in Chinese
“partner” in Chinese is伴bàn
The character 伴 (bàn) primarily means 'to accompany' or 'to partner with.' It is commonly used in contexts involving companionship or partnership, such as in relationships, teamwork, or social interactions. The nuance of 伴 implies a sense of support and togetherness in various activities.
When to use 伴
Learners often confuse 伴 with similar words like 陪 (péi), which also means 'to accompany' but carries a more intimate connotation. 伴 is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Be careful with tone; the first tone can change the meaning dramatically.
伴 or something close to it
陪 (péi) vs 伴 (bàn): Use 陪 when emphasizing the act of accompanying someone for support or comfort, while 伴 focuses more on partnership or companionship in activities.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 伴 with 伴随 (bànsuí), which means 'to accompany' in a more passive sense. A wrong example is saying '我伴随你去' when you mean '我伴你去' (I will accompany you), which sounds overly formal.
Write 伴
伴
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Practice writing 伴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 伴
伴 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____随着隆隆的低沉噪声，螺旋桨开始旋转起来。
With a low-pitched rumbling noise, the propeller began to rotate.
Common confusions with 伴
伴vs班
bān
Similar phonetics and structure, different meanings
One in eight women lives in an abusive relationship.
10
4个月来，他一直陪伴在她身边。
4 gè yuè lái， tā yìzhí péibàn zài tā shēnbiān。
He has been her constant companion for the last four months.
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Word Family of 伴
Words containing this character20
伙伴huǒbànpartner
伴bànpartner
伴随bànsuíto accompany伴隨
陪伴péibànto accompany
同伴tóngbàncompanion
伴侣bànlǚmate伴侶
舞伴wǔbàndancing partner
相伴xiāngbànto accompany sb
伴娘bànniángbridesmaid
伴郎bànlángbest man
老伴lǎobàn(of an elderly couple) husband or wife
伴奏bànzòuto accompany (musically)
女伴nǚbànfemale companion
结伴jiébànto go with sb結伴
伴舞bànwǔescort
做伴zuòbànto accompany
伴唱bànchàngvocal accompaniment
作伴zuòbànto accompany
玩伴wánbànplaymate
老伴儿lǎobànr(of an elderly couple) husband or wife老伴兒
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 伴
What does 伙伴 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 伴
Some synonyms for 伴 include 朋友 (péngyǒu) meaning 'friend', 同伴 (tóngbàn) meaning 'comrade' or 'fellow', and 伴侣 (bànlǚ) meaning 'partner' in a romantic context. Each of these words has a slightly different nuance depending on the relationship.
In Chinese culture, 伴 often reflects the importance of companionship in various aspects of life, such as friendship, family ties, and romantic relationships. It emphasizes the value of having someone to share experiences and support each other.
伴 (bàn) means 'partner' or 'companion' in Chinese. It can refer to someone who accompanies you or a comrade in a shared activity. The character is often used in contexts related to companionship and partnership.
To use 伴 in a sentence, you might say '他是我的伴' (tā shì wǒ de bàn), which means 'He is my companion.' You can also use it in phrases like '伴我一起' (bàn wǒ yīqǐ), meaning 'accompany me together.'
You can say '我伴你去' (wǒ bàn nǐ qù), meaning 'I will accompany you.'
No, 伴 can refer to any kind of partnership, including professional relationships.
伴 is more neutral and can be used in various contexts, while 陪 tends to imply a closer, more intimate relationship.
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