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瓣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
瓣bànpetalq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànsegmentq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànclove (of garlic)q, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànpieceq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànsectionq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànfragmentq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànvalveq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànlamellaq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
瓣bànclassifier for pieces, segments etcq, 19 strokes, radical 瓜, rank #17250, Very Hard
bàn(ban4) T4
  1. 1petal
  2. 2segment
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

瓣bàn(ban4)

The character 瓣 (bàn) refers to a segment or piece of something, often used in contexts like petals of a flower or cloves of garlic. It can also denote a classifier for items that are divided into sections, emphasizing the idea of a fragment or part of a whole.

Strokes19Radical瓜Frequency#17250DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, garlic is a staple ingredient, and understanding the term for 'clove' is essential when discussing recipes or cooking techniques. This highlights how language connects with culinary culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a flower with multiple petals; each petal is a 瓣 (bàn). The character has a radical '瓦' (tile) at the bottom which resembles a roof, suggesting that these segments (or petals) come together to form a complete structure, just like tiles on a roof.

Meanings of 瓣

bàn(ban4)
1petal
2segment
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 瓣

瓣Simplified
19Strokes
瓜Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#17250Frequency Rank

Podcast: 瓣

JasonAmy

Podcast: 瓣

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 瓣

Quick Contrast

瓣 (bàn) vs 片 (piàn) — use 瓣 for segments like flower petals or garlic cloves, while 片 refers to flat pieces or slices.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 瓣 with similar classifiers like 片 (piàn) for slices. 瓣 is generally used in more specific contexts involving segments, while 片 is broader. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (bàn) which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

While 瓣 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it's beneficial to relate it to the HSK Level 3 word 片 (piàn) to grasp the concept of segments. Focus on using it in sentences about food or nature to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly write 瓣 with the wrong components, confusing it with 瓣 (bàn) or 片 (piàn). Ensure you use 瓣 specifically for segments or parts, especially in culinary contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 瓣

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Etymology of 瓣

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

melon

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 瓣

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

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

Want the full history of 瓣? 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 瓣?

Decomposition of 瓣

IDS Structure⿲辛瓜辛
瓣Full Character
=
辛Xin1
left
瓜gua1
middle
辛Xin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 瓣?

How to say petal in Chinese

“petal” in Chinese is瓣bàn

The character 瓣 (bàn) refers to a segment or piece of something, often used in contexts like petals of a flower or cloves of garlic. It can also denote a classifier for items that are divided into sections, emphasizing the idea of a fragment or part of a whole.

When to use 瓣

Learners often confuse 瓣 with similar classifiers like 片 (piàn) for slices. 瓣 is generally used in more specific contexts involving segments, while 片 is broader. Be mindful of the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (bàn) which can change the meaning if mispronounced.

瓣 or something close to it

瓣 (bàn) vs 片 (piàn) — use 瓣 for segments like flower petals or garlic cloves, while 片 refers to flat pieces or slices.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly write 瓣 with the wrong components, confusing it with 瓣 (bàn) or 片 (piàn). Ensure you use 瓣 specifically for segments or parts, especially in culinary contexts.

Write 瓣

瓣

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 瓣

瓣 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 9 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

留点豆____菜作配菜。

Reserve some watercress for garnish.

Example Sentences for 瓣 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
留点豆瓣菜作配菜。

liú diǎn dòu bàn cài zuò pèi cài。

Reserve some watercress for garnish.
2
她掰开玫瑰花,将花瓣撒在坟墓上。

tā bāi kāi méi guī huā, , jiāng huā bàn sā zài fén mù。

She tore the rose apart and scattered the petals over the grave.
3
把蘑菇切成丁,再把西红柿切成四瓣。

bǎ mó gū qiē chéng dīng, , zài bǎ xī hóng shì qiē chéng sì。

Chop the mushrooms and quarter the tomatoes.
4
略带蓝色的白花瓣

lüè dài lán sè de bái huā bàn

white petals tinged with blue
5
可以把这些花瓣跟米饭一起煮,使米饭变成黄色。

kě yǐ bǎ zhè xiē huā bàn gēn mǐ fàn yī qǐ zhǔ, , shǐ mǐ fàn biàn chéng huáng。

The petals can be cooked with rice to colour it yellow.
6
每瓣蒜外面的薄皮都要留着。

měi bàn suàn wài miàn de báo pí dū yào liú zháo。

Leave each garlic clove in its papery skin.
7
水面上一朵鲜花舒展开的花瓣沉入了清澈宁静的水中.

shuǐ miàn shàng yī duǒ xiān huā shū zhǎn kāi de huā bàn chén rù le qīng chè níng jìng de shuǐ zhōng.

A flower on the surface extends its petals drowning to subside in the clear still water.
8
花瓣似的山峰在饮着日光,这山岂不象一朵花 吗 ?

huā bàn sì de shān fēng zài yǐn zháo rì guāng, , zhè shān qǐ bù xiàng yī duǒ huā?

Is not this mountain like a flower, with its petals of hill, drinking the sunlight?
9
半重瓣深色的蓝到深紫色大朵折边花. 深绿色和粉红色组合成的斑叶. 标准型.

bàn zhòng bàn shēn sè de lán dào shēn zǐ sè dà duǒ zhē biān huā. . shēn lǜ sè hé fěn hóng sè zǔ hé chéng de bān. yè . biāo.

Semidouble dark blue - purple frilled Large. Variegated dark green and pink. Standard.
10
重瓣深珊瑚色大朵折边花. 深绿色波浪叶. 大型.

zhòng bàn shēn shān hú sè dà duǒ zhē biān huā. . shēn lǜ sè bō làng. yè ..

Double dark coral ruffled Large. Dark green, wavy. Large.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Reserve some watercress for garnish.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Word Family of 瓣

Words Containing This Character7
瓣bànpetal
花瓣huābànpetal
豆瓣Douban, PRC social networking website
瓣膜valve (biological)
二尖瓣mitral valve (physiology)
豆瓣酱doubanjiang豆瓣醬
豆瓣菜watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 瓣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 瓣

You can use 瓣 when talking about food items like garlic cloves or when describing flower petals.

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