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March 24, 2026
朋péng(peng2)
The character 朋 (péng) means 'friend' or 'pal' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to a close companion or acquaintance, and is often found in phrases related to friendship and social relationships. This character emphasizes the importance of camaraderie in Chinese culture.
Strokes8Radical月Frequency#9779DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of friendship is highly valued, and the character 朋 reflects the deep bonds that can form between individuals. Friendship plays a significant role in social networks and support systems within Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine two moons (月) side by side, representing friendship. The character 朋 is composed of two 月 (yuè) characters, symbolizing that just like the two moons, friends share light and support each other.
Meanings of 朋
péng(peng2)
1friend
2friend, pal, acquaintance
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About 朋
朋Simplified
8Strokes
月Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9779Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 朋
Podcast: 朋
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AI Study Notes for 朋
Quick Contrast
友 (yǒu) vs 朋友 (péngyǒu): Use 朋 when referring to a close companion, while 友 can be more general and may not imply closeness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 朋 (péng) with 朋友 (péngyǒu), which specifically means 'friend' in a more general sense. Use 朋 in informal contexts, often among younger speakers, while 朋友 may be more formal. Remember that tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
While 朋 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 1 vocabulary like 你 (nǐ, you) and 我 (wǒ, I), as it can help create simple sentences about friendships. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and usage in everyday conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 朋 in formal contexts, but it is best used informally. For example, saying '我有一个朋' instead of '我有一个朋友' (I have a friend) is incorrect; use 朋友 for formal situations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 朋
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How Well Do You Know 朋?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 朋 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.
Pictograph of two strings of objects mounted together. Originally meant "pair", later the meaning shifted to "friend". The modern form is visually similar to 月 (moon) but the meaning is not related.
The character 朋 (péng) means 'friend' or 'pal' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to a close companion or acquaintance, and is often found in phrases related to friendship and social relationships. This character emphasizes the importance of camaraderie in Chinese culture.
When to use 朋
Be careful not to confuse 朋 (péng) with 朋友 (péngyǒu), which specifically means 'friend' in a more general sense. Use 朋 in informal contexts, often among younger speakers, while 朋友 may be more formal. Remember that tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
朋 or something close to it
友 (yǒu) vs 朋友 (péngyǒu): Use 朋 when referring to a close companion, while 友 can be more general and may not imply closeness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 朋 in formal contexts, but it is best used informally. For example, saying '我有一个朋' instead of '我有一个朋友' (I have a friend) is incorrect; use 朋友 for formal situations.
Write 朋
朋
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Grammar Patterns of 朋
朋 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.
