Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
膀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
膀bǎngupper armn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngpuffed (swollen)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngwingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngbladdern, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngto flirtn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngshoulder, upper arm, wingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bǎngold variant of 膀[bǎng]n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngupper armn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngpuffed (swollen)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngwingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngbladdern, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngto flirtn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngshoulder, upper arm, wingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀bàngold variant of 膀[bǎng]n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngupper armn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngpuffed (swollen)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngwingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngbladdern, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngto flirtn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngshoulder, upper arm, wingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pāngold variant of 膀[bǎng]n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángupper armn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángpuffed (swollen)n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángwingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángbladdern, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángto flirtn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángshoulder, upper arm, wingn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
膀pángold variant of 膀[bǎng]n, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #36735, Very Hard
bǎng(bang3)
primary
T3
  1. 1upper arm
  2. 2puffed (swollen)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

膀bǎng(bang3)

The character 膀 (bǎng) primarily refers to the upper arm or shoulder area of the body. It can also denote a wing, particularly in a more poetic or stylistic context. Additionally, it carries nuances related to swelling or puffing up, and can imply flirtation in certain contexts.

Strokes14Radical⺼Frequency#36735DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of the body and its parts, including the 膀, is vital for understanding health and balance. The upper arm is often associated with strength and vitality in martial arts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, fluffy 'bark' (bǎng) that has swollen up like a balloon. The character 膀 is composed of the radical '肉' (meat), suggesting something fleshy, and the phonetic component '彭' (péng), which sounds like 'puffed'. Picture a puffed arm with a 'bark' on it, to remember both its sound and meaning.

Meanings of 膀

bǎng(bang3)
primary
1upper arm
2puffed (swollen)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 膀

膀Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#36735Frequency Rank

Podcast: 膀

JasonAmy

Podcast: 膀

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 膀

Quick Contrast

肩 (jiān) - shoulder; use 膀 when referring specifically to the upper arm or in poetic contexts.

Usage Notes

膀 is often used in more formal or medical contexts when referring to the upper arm or shoulder. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial. Common collocations include phrases like 膀胱 (bladder) where the character is combined with others to create specific meanings.

HSK Study Tips

膀 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your knowledge of body-related terms, which are useful for HSK levels 2 and 3. Focus on its usage in phrases to solidify your grasp on body parts in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 膀 with 肱 (gōng), which also means 'arm' but is more technical. A common mistake is saying '我受伤在膀' instead of '我受伤在我的手臂' (I hurt my arm).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 膀

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 膀 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 膀

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Flesh ⺼ beside 旁 the body; 旁 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 膀

  1. 1The giveawayFlesh ⺼ beside 旁 the body; 旁 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 膀? 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 膀?

Decomposition of 膀

IDS Structure⿰⺼旁
膀Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
旁pang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 膀?

How to say upper arm in Chinese

“upper arm” in Chinese is膀bǎng

The character 膀 (bǎng) primarily refers to the upper arm or shoulder area of the body. It can also denote a wing, particularly in a more poetic or stylistic context. Additionally, it carries nuances related to swelling or puffing up, and can imply flirtation in certain contexts.

When to use 膀

膀 is often used in more formal or medical contexts when referring to the upper arm or shoulder. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone is crucial. Common collocations include phrases like 膀胱 (bladder) where the character is combined with others to create specific meanings.

膀 or something close to it

肩 (jiān) - shoulder; use 膀 when referring specifically to the upper arm or in poetic contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 膀 with 肱 (gōng), which also means 'arm' but is more technical. A common mistake is saying '我受伤在膀' instead of '我受伤在我的手臂' (I hurt my arm).

Write 膀

膀

Practice writing 膀 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 膀

膀 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 7 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 5

Complete the Sentence

他被一颗跳弹打伤了肩____。

He was wounded in the shoulder by a ricochet.

Common Confusions with 膀

膀vs胖
pàng

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "upper arm"?

or

Example Sentences for 膀 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他被一颗跳弹打伤了肩膀。

tā bèi yī kē tiào dàn dǎ shāng le jiān bǎng。

He was wounded in the shoulder by a ricochet.
2
图尔金拍拍他的肩膀。“不好意思打断您一下,上校。”

tú ěr jīn pāi pāi tā de jiān bǎng。“ 。“ bù hǎo yì sī dǎ duàn nín yī, xià ,。”

Turkin tapped him on the shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt, Colonel."
3
他试图爬走时肩膀中枪了。

tā shì tú pá zǒu shí jiān bǎng zhōng qiāng le。

As he tried to crawl away, he was hit in the shoulder.
4
三个膀粗腰圆的恶汉挤到了前面。

sān gè bǎng cū yāo yuán de è hàn jǐ dào le qián miàn。

Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
5
人群将拿着旗子的人举过肩膀。

rén qún jiāng ná zháo qí zǐ de rén jǔ guò jiān bǎng。

The crowd lifted the man with the flag shoulder-high.
6
她看见蛾子的翅膀偶尔会泛光。

tā kàn jiàn é zǐ de chì bǎng ǒu ěr huì fàn guāng。

She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
7
她将自己睡袍的吊带拉到肩膀上。

tā jiāng zì jǐ shuì páo de diào dài lā dào jiān bǎng shàng。

She pulled the strap of her nightgown onto her shoulder.
8
一只鸽子从塔里钻出来,扑扑地拍打着翅膀。

yī zhī gē zǐ cóng tǎ lǐ zuān chū lái, , pū pū dì pāi dǎ zháo chì。

A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower.
9
她的耳朵、肩膀和髋部呈一条直线。

tā de ěr duǒ、 、 jiān bǎng hé kuān bù chéng yī tiáo zhí。

Her ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.
10
把填料放到腔内,把鸟的腿和翅膀扎紧。

bǎ tián liào fàng dào qiāng nèi, , bǎ niǎo de tuǐ hé chì bǎng zā。

Put stuffing into the cavity and truss the bird.

Word Family of 膀

Words Containing This Character12
肩膀jiānbǎngshoulder
翅膀chìbǎngwing
膀胱bladder
臂膀arm
膀子arm
膀bǎngwing
膀胱炎cystitis
光膀子bare upper body
膀臂arm
甩开膀子to go all out甩開膀子
膀大腰圆burly膀大腰圓
吊膀子to flirt (derog.)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 肩膀 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 膀

膀 is pronounced as 'bǎng', with the third tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 膀?

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.