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March 24, 2026
叛pàn(pan4)
The character 叛 (pàn) means to betray or to rebel against authority or established norms. It is commonly used in contexts involving treachery, such as betrayal in personal relationships or revolt against a government. The nuance of this term often carries a moral weight, suggesting a breach of loyalty or allegiance.
Strokes9Radical又Frequency#17648DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the concept of 叛 is significant, especially in discussions of historical rebellions such as the Taiping Rebellion, where betrayal against the ruling authority led to massive social upheaval.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'pan' (pàn) that has flipped over, spilling everything out. This represents betrayal as you 'turn' on someone, just like flipping a pan. The radical 口 (kǒu), which means mouth, can remind you of the words spoken when someone betrays another.
Meanings of 叛
pàn(pan4)
1to betray
2to rebel
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 叛
叛Simplified
9Strokes
又Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#17648Frequency Rank
Podcast: 叛
Podcast: 叛
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AI Study Notes for 叛
Quick Contrast
背叛 (bèipàn) vs 叛逆 (pànnì) — choose 叛 for a focus on betrayal against authority rather than the broader rebellious connotation of 叛逆.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'pan' (pàn) that has flipped over, spilling everything out. This represents betrayal as you 'turn' on someone, just like flipping a pan. The radical 口 (kǒu), which means mouth, can remind you of the words spoken when someone betrays another.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 叛 with similar-sounding words like 盼 (pàn), which means to hope. This term is more formal and often used in literary or historical contexts, so it may not appear in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 叛徒 (pàntú - traitor) and 叛乱 (pànluàn - rebellion).
HSK Study Tips
While 叛 is not in the HSK curriculum, it connects to HSK-level vocabulary related to conflict and relationships, such as 背叛 (bèipàn - to betray) and 反叛 (fǎnpàn - to rebel). Focus on recognizing its use in phrases and understanding its implications in various contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the concept of 叛 is significant, especially in discussions of historical rebellions such as the Taiping Rebellion, where betrayal against the ruling authority led to massive social upheaval.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 叛 with 叛逆 (pànnì - rebellious), which is more about defiance than betrayal. For example, saying '他是一个叛' (Tā shì yīgè pàn) is incorrect; instead, say '他是一个叛徒' (Tā shì yīgè pàntú - He is a traitor).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 叛
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Grammar Patterns of 叛
叛 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 4 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.
They are in twice daily radio contact with the rebel leader.
10
她会犯下背叛自己母亲的错误。
tā huì fàn xià bèi pàn zì jǐ mǔ qīn de cuò wù。
She would be guilty of betraying her own mother.
Cultural Notes for 叛
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the concept of 叛 is significant, especially in discussions of historical rebellions such as the Taiping Rebellion, where betrayal against the ruling authority led to massive social upheaval.
Word Family of 叛
Words Containing This Character20
背叛bèipànto betray
叛徒traitor
叛逆pànnìto rebel
叛乱armed rebellion叛亂
叛军rebel army叛軍
反叛to rebel
叛pànto betray
叛变to defect叛變
叛国treason叛國
叛逃to defect
叛国罪the crime of treason叛國罪
离经叛道to rebel against orthodoxy離經叛道
平叛to put down a revolt
众叛亲离fig. to find oneself utterly isolated眾叛親離
叛匪rebel bandit
叛党to betray one's party叛黨
叛离to betray叛離
背叛者traitor
叛逆者traitor
叛卖to betray叛賣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 背叛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 叛
You can say, '他叛变了他的国家' (Tā pànbiàn le tā de guójiā), meaning 'He betrayed his country.'
While it's more common in formal or literary contexts, you might hear it in discussions about loyalty and betrayal in everyday conversations.
叛 emphasizes rebellion or revolt, while 背叛 specifically means to betray someone close, like a friend or family member.
