Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
坟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
坟
fén
grave
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
坟
fén
tomb
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
坟
fén
embankment
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
坟
fén
mound
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
坟
fén
ancient book
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
坟
fén
grave, mound, bulge; bulging
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 土, rank #9545, Very Hard
fén(fen2)fen T2
1grave
2tomb
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
坟(墳)fén(fen2)
The character 坟 (fén) refers to a grave or tomb where a deceased person is buried. It can also denote a mound or embankment, and in some contexts, it relates to ancient texts or books. This term is commonly used in discussions about burial practices and memorials in Chinese culture.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#9545DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, visiting graves during the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a significant tradition, where families honor their ancestors by cleaning their graves and making offerings. The word 坟 is often used in this context.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'mound' where someone rests, which resembles the character 坟. The bottom part (土) represents 'earth' and signifies that something is buried beneath it, while the top resembles a roof protecting the grave—hence, 'grave' or 'tomb'. The pronunciation 'fén' can be remembered by thinking of 'funeral', linking it to how we honor the dead.
Meanings of 坟
fén(fen2)
1grave
2tomb
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 坟 means.
About 坟
坟Simplified
墳Traditional
7Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9545Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 坟
Podcast: 坟
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 坟
Quick Contrast
坟 (grave) vs 墓 (tomb) — use 坟 for informal or everyday references, while 墓 is more formal or literary.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 坟 with similar terms like 墓 (mù), which also means tomb but is more formal. In informal contexts, 坟 is often used among friends or family discussing burial sites. Be careful with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 坟 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to Level 3-4 words related to family and death, such as 家 (jiā - family) and 死 (sǐ - death). Students should focus on recognizing how this term is used in relation to cultural practices around death and memorials.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坟 with 墓, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我去墓' (wǒ qù mù - I go to the tomb) instead of '我去坟' (wǒ qù fén - I go to the grave) can lead to misunderstandings in casual conversations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坟
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 坟, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 坟 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 坟?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 坟 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.
坟 = 土 + 文. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 坟
IDS Structure⿰土文
坟Full character
=
土Tu3
left
文Wen2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 坟?
How to say grave in Chinese
“grave” in Chinese is坟fén
The character 坟 (fén) refers to a grave or tomb where a deceased person is buried. It can also denote a mound or embankment, and in some contexts, it relates to ancient texts or books. This term is commonly used in discussions about burial practices and memorials in Chinese culture.
When to use 坟
Common mistakes include confusing 坟 with similar terms like 墓 (mù), which also means tomb but is more formal. In informal contexts, 坟 is often used among friends or family discussing burial sites. Be careful with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
坟 or something close to it
坟 (grave) vs 墓 (tomb) — use 坟 for informal or everyday references, while 墓 is more formal or literary.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坟 with 墓, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我去墓' (wǒ qù mù - I go to the tomb) instead of '我去坟' (wǒ qù fén - I go to the grave) can lead to misunderstandings in casual conversations.
Write 坟
坟
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 坟 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 坟
坟 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 6 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.
