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粉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
粉
fěn
powder
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
cosmetic face powder
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
food prepared from starch
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
noodles or pasta made from any kind of flour
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
whitewash
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
white
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
pink
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
粉
fěn
powder, flour, cosmetic powder; plaster
HSK 6, n, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #3839, Hard
fěn(fen3)fen T3
1powder
2cosmetic face powder
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March 24, 2026
粉fěn(fen3)
The character 粉 (fěn) primarily means 'powder' and can refer to various types of powders, including cosmetic face powder and food products made from starch, like noodles. It is commonly used in contexts related to cooking, cosmetics, and even construction materials like plaster.
Strokes10Radical米Frequency#3839DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 粉 is not just about cooking; it also plays a role in beauty standards, where cosmetic powders are used extensively in traditional and modern makeup routines. Additionally, the color pink (粉红) is often associated with femininity and love in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a fine dusting of pink powder being sprinkled on a cake. The character 粉 has a 'powdery' look, with the top part suggesting something light and fine, and the bottom part resembling a container holding that powder. Picture a cake being decorated with a pink powder to help remember the pronunciation 'fěn'.
Meanings of 粉
fěn(fen3)
1powder
2cosmetic face powder
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 粉 means.
About 粉
粉Simplified
10Strokes
米Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#3839Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 粉
Podcast: 粉
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AI study notes for 粉
Quick Contrast
面粉 (miànfěn, flour) vs. 糖粉 (tángfěn, powdered sugar) — use 粉 (fěn) for general powder, while 面粉 specifies flour and 糖粉 specifies powdered sugar.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 粉 with 面 (miàn), which also relates to flour but refers more specifically to noodles or dough. 粉 is typically used in informal settings, while more specific terms may be used in formal contexts. Be careful with the third tone in 'fěn' as it can sound similar to the first tone if pronounced quickly.
HSK Study Tips
While 粉 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other food-related terms and cooking vocabulary that may appear in HSK levels. Students should focus on context and collocations, such as 粉丝 (fěnsī - glass noodles) and 粉红 (fěnhóng - pink).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 粉 when referring directly to flour for baking, instead of using 面 (miàn) for flour-based products. For instance, saying '我需要粉来做蛋糕' (wǒ xūyào fěn lái zuò dàn gāo) suggesting 'I need powder to make a cake' can be incorrect; it should be '我需要面来做蛋糕'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粉
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How well do you know 粉?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 粉 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.
粉 = 米 + 分. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 粉
IDS Structure⿰米分
粉Full character
=
米Mi3
left
分fen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 粉?
How to say powder in Chinese
“powder” in Chinese is粉fěn
The character 粉 (fěn) primarily means 'powder' and can refer to various types of powders, including cosmetic face powder and food products made from starch, like noodles. It is commonly used in contexts related to cooking, cosmetics, and even construction materials like plaster.
When to use 粉
Learners often confuse 粉 with 面 (miàn), which also relates to flour but refers more specifically to noodles or dough. 粉 is typically used in informal settings, while more specific terms may be used in formal contexts. Be careful with the third tone in 'fěn' as it can sound similar to the first tone if pronounced quickly.
粉 or something close to it
面粉 (miànfěn, flour) vs. 糖粉 (tángfěn, powdered sugar) — use 粉 (fěn) for general powder, while 面粉 specifies flour and 糖粉 specifies powdered sugar.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 粉 when referring directly to flour for baking, instead of using 面 (miàn) for flour-based products. For instance, saying '我需要粉来做蛋糕' (wǒ xūyào fěn lái zuò dàn gāo) suggesting 'I need powder to make a cake' can be incorrect; it should be '我需要面来做蛋糕'.
Write 粉
粉
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Practice writing 粉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 粉
粉 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 8 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
无论你如何____饰，银行就是为了放贷而生的。
However you dress it up, a bank only exists to lend money.
