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汴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
汴biàna river in Henan; Henan provincens, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #61547, Very Hard
汴biànHenanunknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #61547, Very Hard
汴biànname of a river in Henanunknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #61547, Very Hard
biàn(Bian4) T4
  1. 1a river in Henan; Henan province
  2. 2Henan
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

汴biàn(Bian4)

The character 汴 (biàn) refers to a river in Henan province, China, known historically for its importance in trade and transportation. It is often associated with the cultural and geographical identity of Henan, a central region in Chinese history. The character can also denote the province itself.

Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#61547DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

汴 is closely related to the historical significance of the Bian River, which played a crucial role in the development of the ancient capital Kaifeng during the Song Dynasty. This river is emblematic of the cultural heritage of Henan.

Memory Tip

Imagine a winding river (the water radical 氵) flowing through Henan, where 'biàn' sounds like 'bend.' Picture a bend in the river that defines the landscape of Henan, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 汴

biàn(Bian4)
1a river in Henan; Henan province
2Henan
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 汴

汴Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 汴

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Podcast: 汴

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AI Study Notes for 汴

Usage Notes

汴 is primarily used in geographical contexts and might not be encountered in everyday conversation. It's important to note that while it refers specifically to a river, it can also imply the broader region of Henan. Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 汴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners interested in geography. Understanding this word can help connect other geographic terms related to provinces and rivers, enhancing contextual knowledge of the Chinese landscape.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 汴 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, saying 'bian' with a neutral tone instead of the correct falling tone 'biàn' can lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, mixing it up with colloquial terms for rivers can cause errors in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 汴

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Etymology of 汴

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)卞
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 汴

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half卞 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 汴? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 汴?

Decomposition of 汴

IDS Structure⿰氵卞
汴Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
卞Bian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 汴?

How to say a river in Henan; Henan province in Chinese

“a river in Henan; Henan province” in Chinese is汴biàn

The character 汴 (biàn) refers to a river in Henan province, China, known historically for its importance in trade and transportation. It is often associated with the cultural and geographical identity of Henan, a central region in Chinese history. The character can also denote the province itself.

When to use 汴

汴 is primarily used in geographical contexts and might not be encountered in everyday conversation. It's important to note that while it refers specifically to a river, it can also imply the broader region of Henan. Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 汴 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, saying 'bian' with a neutral tone instead of the correct falling tone 'biàn' can lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, mixing it up with colloquial terms for rivers can cause errors in context.

Write 汴

汴

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 汴

Words Containing This Character3
汴biànHenan
汴京Bianjing, Northern Song capital, now called Kaifeng 開封|开封[Kāi​fēng], Henan
汴梁old name of Kaifeng 開封|开封[Kāi​fēng]
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 汴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 汴

汴 refers to a river in Henan province and can also represent the province itself.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 汴?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.