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绷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
绷bēngto bind, to strap, to draw firmHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
绷bēngto have a taut faceHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
绷bēngto tieHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
绷běngto bind, to strap, to draw firmHSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
绷běngto have a taut faceHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
绷běngto tieHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 纟, rank #7654, Very Hard
bēng(beng1)beng
primary
T1
  1. 1to bind, to strap, to draw firm
  2. 2to have a taut face
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March 24, 2026

绷(綳)bēng(beng1)

The character 绷 (bēng) primarily means to bind or strap something tightly, conveying the idea of firmness or tension. It can also describe a taut face, often used in contexts where someone is trying to appear serious or stern. This character is commonly found in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as binding objects or expressing emotional states.

Strokes11Radical纟Frequency#7654DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, having a '绷' face can indicate seriousness or a lack of joy, contrasting with the cultural value placed on harmony and smiling in social interactions. This reflects a nuanced approach to emotional expression.

Memory tip

Imagine a tightrope walker (representing '绷') who has to keep a firm grip on the rope to avoid falling. The character's radical '糸' (mì), which relates to thread or string, helps you remember the binding aspect, while the '崩' (bēng) component can remind you of something breaking if not held tight.

Meanings of 绷

bēng(beng1)
primary
1to bind, to strap, to draw firm
2to have a taut face
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 绷

绷Simplified
綳Traditional
11Strokes
纟Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 绷

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AI Study Notes for 绷

Quick Contrast

紧 (jǐn) — use 绷 (bēng) when emphasizing tension or firmness in a binding context, while 紧 (jǐn) focuses more on tightness without the connotation of binding.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. Common collocations include '绷紧' (bēng jǐn) meaning to tighten or '面绷' (miàn bēng) referring to a tight face. It's often used in informal contexts to describe emotions or physical states.

HSK Study Tips

While this character is not specifically part of any HSK level, it connects with other words about emotions and physical states. Students should focus on its use in describing tension or seriousness, which can help build vocabulary around feelings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 绷 with its variant forms, such as 繃, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我会绷东西' (wǒ huì bēng dōngxī) instead of '我会绑东西' (wǒ huì bǎng dōngxī) which means 'I will bind things.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 绷

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Etymology of 绷

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 朋 represents the sound. Simplified form of 繃.

Memory hint

thread

Semantic (meaning)纟
+
Phonetic (sound)朋
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

绷 = 纟 + 朋. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 绷

IDS Structure⿰纟朋
绷Full character
=
纟si1
left
朋peng2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 绷?

How to say to bind, to strap, to draw firm in Chinese

“to bind, to strap, to draw firm” in Chinese is绷bēng

The character 绷 (bēng) primarily means to bind or strap something tightly, conveying the idea of firmness or tension. It can also describe a taut face, often used in contexts where someone is trying to appear serious or stern. This character is commonly found in both physical and metaphorical contexts, such as binding objects or expressing emotional states.

When to use 绷

Be cautious with the tone, as the pronunciation can change the meaning. Common collocations include '绷紧' (bēng jǐn) meaning to tighten or '面绷' (miàn bēng) referring to a tight face. It's often used in informal contexts to describe emotions or physical states.

绷 or something close to it

紧 (jǐn) — use 绷 (bēng) when emphasizing tension or firmness in a binding context, while 紧 (jǐn) focuses more on tightness without the connotation of binding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 绷 with its variant forms, such as 繃, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我会绷东西' (wǒ huì bēng dōngxī) instead of '我会绑东西' (wǒ huì bǎng dōngxī) which means 'I will bind things.'

Write 绷

绷

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

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Grammar Patterns of 绷

绷 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 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

你要是觉得两眼周围紧____,就放松一下肌肉。

If you feel a tenseness around the eyes, relax your muscles.

Example Sentences for 绷 (10)

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1
你要是觉得两眼周围紧绷,就放松一下肌肉。

nǐ yào shì jué dé liǎng yǎn zhōu wéi jǐn bēng, , jiù fàng sōng yī xià jī。

If you feel a tenseness around the eyes, relax your muscles.
2
雪花如刀割般刮在他的脸上,他绷紧了双肩。

xuě huā rú dāo gē bān guā zài tā de liǎn shàng, , tā bēng jǐn le shuāng。

He braced his shoulders as the snow slashed across his face.
3
这时候,我的心里像有个东西突然绷断了——我再也忍受不了啦。

zhè shí hòu, , wǒ de xīn lǐ xiàng yǒu gè dōng xī tū rán bēng duàn—— le —— wǒ zài yě rěn shòu bù。

Then something seemed to snap in me. I couldn't endure any more.
4
他的头上缠满了一层层用床单撕成的绷带。

tā de tóu shàng chán mǎn le yī céng céng yòng chuáng dān sī chéng de bēng dài。

His head was swathed in bandages made from a torn sheet.
5
萨拉走上前来,紧绷着脸,怒气冲冲。

sà lā zǒu shàng qián lái, , jǐn bēng zháo, liǎn , nù qì。

Sarah came forward with a tight and angry face.
6
制服上装中间的纽扣在他的肚子上绷得紧紧的。

zhì fú shàng zhuāng zhōng jiān de niǔ kòu zài tā de dù zǐ shàng bēng dé jǐn jǐn de。

The middle button of his uniform jacket was strained over his belly.
7
我们在他的膝盖上涂了些药膏并打上了绷带。

wǒ mén zài tā de xī gài shàng tú le xiē yào gāo bìng dǎ shàng le bēng dài。

We put some ointment and a bandage on his knee.
8
系船的绳子突然绷断了。

xì chuán de shéng zǐ tū rán bēng duàn le。

The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke.
9
缆绳绷紧了,他被慢慢地吊离了甲板。

lǎn shéng bēng jǐn le, , tā bèi màn màn dì diào lí le jiǎ。

The cables tightened and he was lifted gradually from the deck.
10
我的胳膊很累,背部肌肉紧绷得难受。

wǒ de gē bó hěn léi, , bèi bù jī ròu jǐn bēng dé nán。

My arms are tired, and my back is tense.

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Word Family of 绷

Words containing this character7
绷bēngto draw tight繃
绷带bēngdàibandage (loanword)繃帶
紧绷to stretch taut緊繃
绷着脸to have a taut face繃著臉
紧绷绷tight緊繃繃
棕绷rectangular frame with a palm fiber mat woven across it (placed on a bed frame as the sleeping surface)棕繃
绷子hoop繃子
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 绷

What does 绷带 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 绷

Figuratively, 绷 can describe someone maintaining a serious or stern expression, often indicating they are not relaxed.

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