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March 24, 2026
潘pān(Pan1)
The character 潘 (pān) primarily represents a surname in Chinese. It is also associated with a river that flows into the Han River and can refer to Pan, a figure from Greek mythology. In everyday use, it is most commonly encountered as a family name.
Strokes15Radical氵Frequency#9466DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The surname 潘 is historically significant in China and may be associated with various notable figures in literature and history. Surnames hold deep cultural value, often reflecting a family's heritage and ancestral lineage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'pan' floating on a river (the river represented by the water radical 氵), where the surname 潘 is like a boat gliding smoothly along. This imagery ties the character’s meaning to its pronunciation, as the sound 'pān' is reminiscent of the word 'pan' in English.
Meanings of 潘
pān(Pan1)
1a river that flows into the Han; surname
2Pan, faun in Greek mythology, son of Hermes
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 潘
潘Simplified
15Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 潘
Podcast: 潘
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AI Study Notes for 潘
Usage Notes
When using 潘 as a surname, it is typically polite to use it with the honorific title Mr. or Ms. (先生/女士) as a sign of respect. A common mistake is to confuse the pronunciation with other similar-sounding surnames; ensure you emphasize the 'pān' sound clearly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 潘 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding this surname can help students recognize the cultural significance of surnames in Chinese society. Students at this level should focus on relating surnames to family and identity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 潘 by confusing it with similar surnames like 潘 (pān) and 蕭 (xiāo). Always ensure you pronounce the 'pān' with the correct tone to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 潘
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 番 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half番 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 潘? 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 潘?
Decomposition of 潘
IDS Structure⿰氵番
潘Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
番fan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 潘?
How to say surname Pan in Chinese
“surname Pan” in Chinese is潘pān
The character 潘 (pān) primarily represents a surname in Chinese. It is also associated with a river that flows into the Han River and can refer to Pan, a figure from Greek mythology. In everyday use, it is most commonly encountered as a family name.
When to use 潘
When using 潘 as a surname, it is typically polite to use it with the honorific title Mr. or Ms. (先生/女士) as a sign of respect. A common mistake is to confuse the pronunciation with other similar-sounding surnames; ensure you emphasize the 'pān' sound clearly.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 潘 by confusing it with similar surnames like 潘 (pān) and 蕭 (xiāo). Always ensure you pronounce the 'pān' with the correct tone to avoid confusion.
Write 潘
潘
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Practice writing 潘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 潘
潘 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 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
斯____塞艰难地迈过一堆破椅子和碎啤酒瓶。
Spencer waded through the debris of broken chairs and beer bottles.
Example Sentences for 潘 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
斯潘塞艰难地迈过一堆破椅子和碎啤酒瓶。
sī pān sāi jiān nán dì mài guò yī duī pò yǐ zǐ hé suì pí jiǔ píng。
Spencer waded through the debris of broken chairs and beer bottles.
In the 1790s Tom Paine taught plebeian radicals that mankind would live in harmony were it not for the vested interest which princes, diplomats and soldiers had in promoting wars to enrich themselves.
4
潘朵拉迅速地把盖子盖回去, 但太迟了.
pān duǒ lā xùn sù dì bǎ gài zǐ gài huí qù, , dàn tài chí.
Pandora quickly put the lid back on, but too late.
