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砭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
砭biānstone probe; to pierce; to counselzg, 9 strokes, radical 石
砭biānancient stone acupuncture needleunknown, 9 strokes, radical 石
砭biānto criticizeunknown, 9 strokes, radical 石
biān(bian1) T1
  1. 1stone probe; to pierce; to counsel
  2. 2ancient stone acupuncture needle
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March 24, 2026

砭biān(bian1)

The character 砭 (biān) refers to an ancient stone tool used in acupuncture practices, particularly for piercing the skin. It also conveys the idea of counseling or criticizing, particularly in a constructive manner. In modern usage, it may represent the act of probing or penetrating a problem, often in a metaphorical sense.

Strokes9Radical石
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, 砭 (biān) represents techniques that date back thousands of years, emphasizing the importance of hands-on practices for health and wellness. This character reflects a cultural appreciation for both physical and mental health.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise doctor holding a sharp stone probe (砭) that not only pierces the skin but also offers sage advice. The 'stone' radical (石) reminds you of its physical form, while 'biān' sounds like 'ban,' as if the doctor is gently prompting (or advising) someone to change.

Meanings of 砭

biān(bian1)
1stone probe; to pierce; to counsel
2ancient stone acupuncture needle
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 砭

砭Simplified
9Strokes
石Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 砭

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Podcast: 砭

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AI Study Notes for 砭

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 砭 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings or tones. It's generally used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about acupuncture or traditional medicine. Common collocations include '砭石' (biān shí, stone probe) and '砭论' (biān lùn, to counsel).

HSK Study Tips

While 砭 is not listed in the HSK, it can be related to other characters that involve health and traditional practices. Focus on the context of traditional Chinese medicine and how it relates to wellness discussions to enhance your understanding of its application.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 砭 with the similar-sounding character '边' (biān, side), leading to misunderstandings. Ensure you remember that 砭 relates to probing or counseling, not location.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 砭

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Etymology of 砭

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

stone

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 砭

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

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

Want the full history of 砭? 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 砭?

Decomposition of 砭

IDS Structure⿰石乏
砭Full Character
=
石dan4
left
乏fa2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 砭?

How to say stone probe; to pierce; to counsel in Chinese

“stone probe; to pierce; to counsel” in Chinese is砭biān

The character 砭 (biān) refers to an ancient stone tool used in acupuncture practices, particularly for piercing the skin. It also conveys the idea of counseling or criticizing, particularly in a constructive manner. In modern usage, it may represent the act of probing or penetrating a problem, often in a metaphorical sense.

When to use 砭

Be careful not to confuse 砭 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings or tones. It's generally used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about acupuncture or traditional medicine. Common collocations include '砭石' (biān shí, stone probe) and '砭论' (biān lùn, to counsel).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 砭 with the similar-sounding character '边' (biān, side), leading to misunderstandings. Ensure you remember that 砭 relates to probing or counseling, not location.

Write 砭

砭

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

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Word Family of 砭

Words Containing This Character3
砭biānto pierce
针砭to critique針砭
砭骨to be extremely cold or painful
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 砭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 砭

It primarily refers to a stone probe used in acupuncture, but can also mean to counsel or criticize.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 砭?

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.