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彭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
péngname of an ancient country; surnamenr, 12 strokes, radical 彡, rank #9987, Hard
péngsurname Pengunknown, 12 strokes, radical 彡, rank #9987, Hard
péng(Peng2) T2
  1. 1name of an ancient country; surname
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March 24, 2026
péng(Peng2)

彭 (péng) is primarily used as a surname in China, and it also refers to an ancient state during the Zhou Dynasty. In modern contexts, it may be encountered in names of places or people, making it a significant character in both historical and contemporary settings.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#9987DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The surname 彭 is associated with notable historical figures, including the famous general 彭德怀 (Peng Dehuai), which illustrates its significance in Chinese history. Additionally, 彭州 (Pengzhou) is a city in Sichuan province, preserving the name's historical roots.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, majestic 'penguin' (彭 sounds like 'peng') standing proudly in an ancient kingdom. The character彭 has a radical that resembles a flowing river, symbolizing the ancient state's connection to nature and history.

Meanings of 彭

péng(Peng2)
1name of an ancient country; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 彭

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 彭

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AI Study Notes for 彭

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a big, majestic 'penguin' (彭 sounds like 'peng') standing proudly in an ancient kingdom. The character彭 has a radical that resembles a flowing river, symbolizing the ancient state's connection to nature and history.

Usage Notes

彭 is mainly used as a surname, so it appears more frequently in formal contexts rather than casual conversation. Common mistakes include mispronouncing it as 'pèng' instead of 'péng', which changes its meaning entirely. Pay attention to the tone, as it is a second tone word.

HSK Study Tips

While 彭 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful for learners focusing on names and surnames. Recognizing this character can help students connect with other surnames in Chinese culture and improve their reading comprehension of historical texts.

Cultural Note

The surname 彭 is associated with notable historical figures, including the famous general 彭德怀 (Peng Dehuai), which illustrates its significance in Chinese history. Additionally, 彭州 (Pengzhou) is a city in Sichuan province, preserving the name's historical roots.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 彭 with similar-sounding surnames like 庞 (páng). Another common mistake is using the wrong tone, such as saying 'pèng', which is incorrect. Always remember to use the rising tone 'péng'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 彭

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Etymology of 彭

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The sound 彡 of drums 壴

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 彭?

Decomposition of 彭

IDS Structure⿰壴彡
Full Character
=
Zhu4
left
shan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 彭?

Write 彭

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 彭

彭 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 2 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 5

Complete the Sentence

____德古德把旅行拖车里的沙子铲了出来。

Pendergood had shovelled the sand out of the caravan.

Example Sentences for 彭 (6)

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1
彭德古德把旅行拖车里的沙子铲了出来。

péng dé gǔ dé bǎ lǚ háng tuō chē lǐ de shā zǐ chǎn le chū lái。

Pendergood had shovelled the sand out of the caravan.
2
我跟着她进了彭尼家然后开始交谈起来。

wǒ gēn zháo tā jìn le péng ní jiā rán hòu kāi shǐ jiāo tán qǐ lái。

I trailed her into Penney's and struck up a conversation.
3
我把自己的名字写在彭尼的下面。

wǒ bǎ zì jǐ de míng zì xiě zài péng ní de xià miàn。

I wrote my name after Penny's.
4
约翰会带你上楼,彭里先生。

yuē hàn huì dài nǐ shàng lóu, , péng lǐ xiān。

John will show you upstairs, Mr Penry.
5
他是奥彭那幅名画中位于前景的戴圆顶硬礼帽的那个人物。

tā shì ào péng nà fú míng huà zhōng wèi yú qián jǐng de dài yuán dǐng yìng lǐ mào de nà gè rén wù。

He is the bowler-hatted figure in the foreground of Orpen's famous painting.
6
虽然输掉了比赛, 但是彭帅的心态确实成熟了.

suī rán shū diào le bǐ sài, , dàn shì péng shuài de xīn tài què shí chéng shú.

Despite losing the game, but Peng Shuai of mind come of age.

Cultural Notes for 彭

🏮Cultural insight

The surname 彭 is associated with notable historical figures, including the famous general 彭德怀 (Peng Dehuai), which illustrates its significance in Chinese history. Additionally, 彭州 (Pengzhou) is a city in Sichuan province, preserving the name's historical roots.

Word Family of 彭

Words Containing This Character20
péngsurname Peng
彭德怀Peng Dehuai (1898-1974), top communist general, subsequently politician and politburo member, disgraced after attacking Mao's failed policies in 1959, and died after extensive persecution during the Cultural Revolution彭德懷
彭真Peng Zhen (1902-1997), Chinese communist leader
彭州Pengzhou county level city in Chengdu 成都[Chéng​dū], Sichuan
彭博Bloomberg (name)
彭勃Peng Bo
彭州市Pengzhou county level city in Chengdu 成都[Chéng​dū], Sichuan
彭斯Mike Pence (1959-), US Republican politician, US vice president from 2017
彭泽Pengze county in Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi彭澤
彭丽媛Peng Liyuan (1962-), PRC folk music singer, wife of Xi Jinping 習近平|习近平[Xí​Jìn​píng]彭麗媛
彭博社Bloomberg News
彭定康Chris Patten (1944-), last British Governor of Hong Kong 1992-1997
彭水县Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in Qianjiang suburbs of Chongqing municipality彭水縣
彭泽县Pengze county in Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi彭澤縣
彭山Pengshan County in Meishan 眉山市[Méi​shān​Shì], Sichuan
彭博新闻社Bloomberg News彭博新聞社
彭祖Peng Zu (legendary figure of Taoism who lived 800 years)
彭山县Pengshan County in Meishan 眉山市[Méi​shān​Shì], Sichuan彭山縣
彭阳县Pengyang county in Guyuan 固原[Gù​yuán], Ningxia彭陽縣
岑彭Cen Peng (died 35 AD), Chinese general
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 彭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 彭

The surname 彭 does not have a specific meaning but is associated with historical figures and an ancient state.