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兵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
兵
bīng
soldiers
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
a force
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
an army
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
weapons
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
arms
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
military
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
warlike
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
兵
bīng
soldier; troops, an army; warlike
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 八, rank #2659, Hard
bīng(bing1)bing T1
1soldiers
2a force
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March 24, 2026
兵bīng(bing1)
The character 兵 (bīng) primarily refers to soldiers or military forces. It can encompass various meanings related to the military, including weapons and arms, and is often used in contexts discussing warfare or military strategy. In modern usage, it may also imply a broader sense of 'force' or 'power'.
Strokes7Radical八Frequency#2659DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 兵 is deeply embedded in the history of warfare, particularly during periods like the Warring States. Traditional Chinese military strategies, as documented in texts like 'The Art of War', emphasize the importance of understanding the forces (兵) involved.
Memory tip
Imagine a soldier (兵) standing tall, holding a shield (the left part of the character) that represents protection and arms. The sharp lines of the character can resemble the sharpness of weapons, reminding you that 'bīng' relates to military might.
Meanings of 兵
bīng(bing1)
1soldiers
2a force
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 兵
兵Simplified
7Strokes
八Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2659Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 兵
Podcast: 兵
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AI study notes for 兵
Quick Contrast
武 (wǔ) - use 兵 (bīng) for soldiers or military forces, while 武 (wǔ) refers more broadly to martial or military arts.
Usage Notes
Be mindful not to confuse 兵 with other characters that refer to military concepts, such as 军 (jūn) meaning 'army'. In everyday conversation, 兵 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in discussions related to military topics. Pay attention to the tone; 兵 is pronounced with a high level tone (bīng).
HSK Study Tips
While 兵 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it relates to HSK level 3 words like 军 (jūn) and 武 (wǔ), which also pertain to military concepts. Focus on memorizing these related terms to enhance your understanding of military vocabulary in Chinese.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 兵 with 军, mistakenly using 兵 when referring to an organized military unit, e.g., saying '我在兵' (wǒ zài bīng) instead of '我在军' (wǒ zài jūn). Remember that 兵 is more general, while 军 refers specifically to an army.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 兵
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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.
The character 兵 (bīng) primarily refers to soldiers or military forces. It can encompass various meanings related to the military, including weapons and arms, and is often used in contexts discussing warfare or military strategy. In modern usage, it may also imply a broader sense of 'force' or 'power'.
When to use 兵
Be mindful not to confuse 兵 with other characters that refer to military concepts, such as 军 (jūn) meaning 'army'. In everyday conversation, 兵 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in discussions related to military topics. Pay attention to the tone; 兵 is pronounced with a high level tone (bīng).
兵 or something close to it
武 (wǔ) - use 兵 (bīng) for soldiers or military forces, while 武 (wǔ) refers more broadly to martial or military arts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 兵 with 军, mistakenly using 兵 when referring to an organized military unit, e.g., saying '我在兵' (wǒ zài bīng) instead of '我在军' (wǒ zài jūn). Remember that 兵 is more general, while 军 refers specifically to an army.
Write 兵
兵
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Grammar patterns of 兵
兵 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 8 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.
He boasts of dodging military service by feigning illness.
7
燧发枪团士兵琼斯奔向作战指挥室寻找他的中尉长官。
suì fā qiāng tuán shìbīng qióng Sī bèn xiàng zuòzhàn zhǐhuī shì xúnzhǎo tā de zhōng wèi cháng guān。
Fusilier Jones ran towards the Ops Room to find his lieutenant.
8
他逃到了哥斯达黎加以逃避服兵役。
tā táo dào le gē Sī dá lí jiāyǐ táobì fú bīng yì。
He fled to Costa Rica to avoid military service.
9
班克斯在皇家海军服过兵役。
bān kè Sī zài huáng jiā hǎijūn fú guò bīng yì。
Banks spent his national service in the Royal Navy.
10
虽然他有通行证，卫兵还是直勾勾地盯着他。
suīrán tā yǒu tōngxíngzhèng， wèi bīng háishi zhí Gōu Gōu dì dīng zhe tā。
The guard eyeballed him pretty hard despite his pass.
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Word Family of 兵
Compounds7
宾bīnvisitor
浜bāngcreek, stream; beach, coast
梹bīn
娦pín
捠bāng
鋲bīng
鬂bìn
Words containing this character20
士兵shìbīngsoldier
兵bīngsoldiers
官兵guānbīngofficers and men
骑兵qíbīngcavalry騎兵
民兵mínbīngmilitia
老兵lǎobīngveteran
兵力bīnglìtroops
兵器bīngqìweaponry
步兵bùbīnginfantry
当兵dāngbīngto be a soldier當兵
新兵xīnbīngnew (army) recruit
兵团bīngtuánformation兵團
卫兵wèibīngguard衛兵
征兵zhēngbīngto levy troops徵兵
炮兵pàobīnggunner
逃兵táobīngarmy deserter
兵营bīngyíngbarracks兵營
出兵chūbīngto send troops
工农兵gōngnóngbīngthe proletariat工農兵
宪兵xiànbīngmilitary police憲兵
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 兵
What does 宾 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 兵
兵 (bīng) refers specifically to soldiers or military personnel, while 军 (jūn) refers more broadly to the army or military as an organization. In simple terms, 兵 is often the individual soldier, and 军 represents the collective force.
兵 plays an important role in Chinese culture, often symbolizing strength and discipline. The character is frequently found in military contexts, literature, and discussions about strategy, reflecting the historical significance of military forces in Chinese society.
兵 (bīng) means 'soldier' or 'military'. It can refer to a soldier, a force, or an army. Additionally, it is associated with weapons and arms in a military context.
To use 兵 in a sentence, you can say something like '他是一名兵' (Tā shì yī míng bīng), which means 'He is a soldier.' You can also use it in compound words like 军兵 (jūn bīng), meaning 'military troops.'
Yes, 兵 can also metaphorically refer to any kind of force or power in various contexts.
兵 is pronounced as bīng, with a high level tone.
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