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巴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
Ba state during Zhou dynasty (in east of modern Sichuan)ns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
abbr. for east Sichuan or Chongqingns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
surname Bans, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
abbr. for Palestine or Palestinianns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
abbr. for Pakistanns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
to long forns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
to wishns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
to cling tons, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
to stick tons, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
sth that sticksns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
close tons, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
next tons, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
spread openns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
informal abbr. for bus 巴士[bā shì]ns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
bar (unit of pressure)ns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
nominalizing suffix on certain nouns, such as 尾巴[wěi ba], tailns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
to desire, to wish forns, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
informal abbr. for bus 巴士[ba1 shi4]unknown, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
nominalizing suffix on certain nouns, such as 尾巴[wei3 ba5], tailunknown, 4 strokes, radical 巳, rank #1652, Hard
(Ba1) T1
  1. 1Ba state during Zhou dynasty (in east of modern Sichuan)
  2. 2abbr. for east Sichuan or Chongqing
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(Ba1)

The character 巴 (bā) has multiple meanings, predominantly relating to the ancient Ba state during the Zhou dynasty, located in modern Sichuan. It also signifies a desire or longing for something, and can mean to cling or stick to something. Additionally, it is used informally to refer to a bus, and serves as an abbreviation for locations like Palestine and Pakistan.

Strokes4RadicalFrequency#1652DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the Ba state is significant for its cultural contributions and historical interactions with the central plains, reflecting the complex tapestry of regional identities in ancient China.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person clinging tightly to a bus (巴士) as it drives through the Ba state. The character 巴 looks like a person leaning or sticking to something, which can help you remember its meanings related to desire and closeness.

Meanings of 巴

(Ba1)
1Ba state during Zhou dynasty (in east of modern Sichuan)
2abbr. for east Sichuan or Chongqing
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 巴

Simplified
4Strokes
Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#1652Frequency Rank

Podcast: 巴

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 巴

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person clinging tightly to a bus (巴士) as it drives through the Ba state. The character 巴 looks like a person leaning or sticking to something, which can help you remember its meanings related to desire and closeness.

Usage Notes

巴 is versatile and can appear in both formal and informal contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters; remember that 巴 specifically relates to the meanings associated with attachment or proximity. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as the fourth tone (bā) conveys different meanings than other tones.

HSK Study Tips

Though 巴 is not an HSK level character, it connects well with the HSK 1 vocabulary related to transportation, like 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē, bus). Focus on understanding its various usages, especially in colloquial language.

Cultural Note

In Chinese history, the Ba state is significant for its cultural contributions and historical interactions with the central plains, reflecting the complex tapestry of regional identities in ancient China.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 巴 with other similar characters, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using it to mean 'father' (父) instead of its correct context of longing or sticking can create confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巴

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Etymology of 巴

Explanation

Pictograph of a person grabbing something with their hand.

Learn more about character formation (六书)
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 巴?

Decomposition of 巴

IDS Structure⿻巳?
Full Character
=
si4
outer
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 巴?

Write 巴

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 巴

巴 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 19 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 3

Complete the Sentence

他跑了十个多小时,____不得一步就到家。

He had been running for over ten hours and desperately wished he could get home in a single step.

Common Confusions with 巴

vs

Different meanings and uses despite similar pronunciation.

vs

Similar pronunciation and shape, but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "Ba state during Zhou dynasty (in east of modern Sichuan)"?

or

Example Sentences for 巴 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我的双手、靴子和裤子上都沾满了泥巴。

wǒ de shuāng shǒu、 、 xuē zǐ hé kù zǐ shàng dū zhān mǎn le ní。

My hands, boots and trousers were plastered with mud.
2
我将到巴黎交流参观。

wǒ jiāng dào bā lí jiāo liú cān guān。

I'm going to go on an exchange visit to Paris.
3
露西的冷淡与世故使得巴里十分不快。

lòu xī de lěng dàn yǔ shì gù shǐ dé bā lǐ shí fēn bù kuài。

Barry had his nose put out of joint by Lucy's aloof sophistication.
4
他的衣服皱巴巴的,好像他是穿着衣服睡的。

tā de yī fú zhòu bā bā de, , hǎo xiàng tā shì chuān zháo yī fú shuì。

His clothes were creased, as if he had slept in them.
5
西班牙一直是古巴的主要贸易伙伴之一。

xī bān yá yī zhí shì gǔ bā de zhǔ yào mào yì huǒ bàn zhī yī。

Spain has been one of Cuba's major trading partners.
6
据说巴士发生翻车,跌进了峡谷。

jù shuō bā shì fā shēng fān chē, , diē jìn le xiá。

The bus is said to have over-turned and fallen into a ravine.
7
这桩交易有些冒险,不过巴格利也没什么可损失的。

zhè zhuāng jiāo yì yǒu xiē mào xiǎn, , bù guò bā gé lì yě méi shí mó kě sǔn shī。

The deal was a long shot, but Bagley had little to lose.
8
门德斯先生正领导一场运动,以拯救遭到乱砍滥伐的巴西热带雨林。

mén dé sī xiān shēng zhèng lǐng dǎo yī cháng yùn dòng, , yǐ zhěng jiù zāo dào luàn kǎn làn fá de bā xī rè dài yǔ。

Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
9
库克先生漫长旅程中的最后一站是巴黎。

kù kè xiān shēng màn cháng lǚ chéng zhōng de zuì hòu yī zhàn shì bā lí。

The last stop in Mr Cook's lengthy tour was Paris.
10
一开始,我们愉快地聊起他的伦敦和巴黎之行。

yī kāi shǐ, , wǒ mén yú kuài dì liáo qǐ tā de lún dūn hé bā lí zhī。

At first we chatted agree-ably about his trips to London and Paris.

Cultural Notes for 巴

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese history, the Ba state is significant for its cultural contributions and historical interactions with the central plains, reflecting the complex tapestry of regional identities in ancient China.

Word Family of 巴

Compounds37
ba1bar (loanword) (serving drinks, or providing Internet access etc)
ba3to hold
ba4father
se4color
sheng1sound
fei2fat
pa2to crawl
ba1a plantain or banana palm
mei2eyebrow
ba1scar
ba3target, mark
ba1bamboo fence
ba4to rake
pa2a guitar-like instrument (2)
yi4area, district, city, state
ba3palladium
ba1tsamba, flat rice cake
ba4loquat tree; axe handle
ba1shark; bonito
夿
ba1rocky mountain
zhi1measuring cup; wine flask
pa1white flowers
jue2to cut, to sever; to break off, to terminate
ba3palladium
Words Containing This Character20
to wish
巴黎Paris, capital of France
巴西Brazil
嘴巴zuǐbamouth
古巴Cuba
巴基斯坦Pakistan
巴勒斯坦Palestine
尾巴wěibatail
下巴chin
巴士bāshìbus (loanword)
黎巴嫩Lebanon
巴斯Bath city in southwest England
巴格达Baghdad, capital of Iraq巴格達
巴掌palm of the hand
淋巴结lymphatic node淋巴結
阿尔巴尼亚Albania阿爾巴尼亞
大巴dàbācoach
淋巴细胞lymphocyte淋巴細胞
淋巴lymphatic
巴库Baku, capital of Azerbaijan巴庫
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 吧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 巴

Yes, 巴 (bā) is a recognized surname in China, although it may not be as common as other surnames. It is often associated with certain regions and historical contexts, adding to its significance in Chinese culture.