to drift, to float; broad, vast; careless, reckless
v, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
to be suffused with
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
general
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
extensive
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
non-specific
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
flood
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
泛
fàn
pan- (prefix)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #10713, Very Hard
fàn(fan4)fan T4
1to drift, to float; broad, vast; careless, reckless
2to be suffused with
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March 24, 2026
泛(氾)fàn(fan4)
The character 泛 (fàn) primarily means 'to drift' or 'to float.' It can also describe something that is broad or extensive, and can convey a sense of carelessness or recklessness in certain contexts. Commonly used to describe water-related phenomena or to express a general, non-specific quality.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#10713DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with both tranquility and chaos, as seen in idioms that use 泛 to describe floods or overwhelming situations. This reflects the dual nature of water in Chinese philosophy, as both a life-giving and destructive force.
Memory Tip
Imagine a boat (representing 'float') drifting on a vast ocean (symbolizing 'broad'). The character 泛 looks like a wave (the water radical 氵) moving over the surface, reminding you of floating and drifting.
Meanings of 泛
fàn(fan4)
1to drift, to float; broad, vast; careless, reckless
2to be suffused with
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 泛 means.
About 泛
泛Simplified
氾Traditional
7Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10713Frequency Rank
Podcast: 泛
Podcast: 泛
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AI Study Notes for 泛
Quick Contrast
漂 (piāo) - use 漂 when emphasizing the lightness or elegance of floating, while 泛 suggests a broader or more careless floating.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 泛 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in literary or descriptive language. Common collocations include 泛滥 (fànlàn, to flood) and 泛化 (fànhuà, to generalize).
HSK Study Tips
While 泛 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your reading comprehension of literary texts. Focus on its usage in phrases and collocations to grasp its broader meanings and nuances.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 泛 with similar characters like 燃 (rán, to burn) due to pronunciation similarities. Ensure you remember that 泛 relates to water and drifting, not fire.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 泛
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How Well Do You Know 泛?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 泛 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.
泛 = 氵 + 乏. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 泛
IDS Structure⿰氵乏
泛Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
乏fa2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 泛?
How to say to drift, to float; broad, vast; careless, reckless in Chinese
“to drift, to float; broad, vast; careless, reckless” in Chinese is泛fàn
The character 泛 (fàn) primarily means 'to drift' or 'to float.' It can also describe something that is broad or extensive, and can convey a sense of carelessness or recklessness in certain contexts. Commonly used to describe water-related phenomena or to express a general, non-specific quality.
When to use 泛
Be careful not to confuse 泛 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in literary or descriptive language. Common collocations include 泛滥 (fànlàn, to flood) and 泛化 (fànhuà, to generalize).
泛 or something close to it
漂 (piāo) - use 漂 when emphasizing the lightness or elegance of floating, while 泛 suggests a broader or more careless floating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 泛 with similar characters like 燃 (rán, to burn) due to pronunciation similarities. Ensure you remember that 泛 relates to water and drifting, not fire.
Write 泛
泛
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Practice writing 泛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 泛
泛 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 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.
