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蕃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
abundant, flourishing; barbarians, foreignersn, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
luxuriantunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
foreign (non-Chinese)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
to reproduceunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
to proliferateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fānabundant, flourishing; barbarians, foreignersn, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fānluxuriantunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fānforeign (non-Chinese)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fānto reproduceunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fānto proliferateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fánabundant, flourishing; barbarians, foreignersn, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fánluxuriantunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fánforeign (non-Chinese)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fánto reproduceunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
fánto proliferateunknown, 15 strokes, radical 艹, rank #44470, Very Hard
(bo1)
primary
T1
  1. 1abundant, flourishing; barbarians, foreigners
  2. 2luxuriant
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(bo1)

The character 蕃 (bō) generally refers to concepts of abundance and flourishing, often in relation to growth or prosperity. It can also denote foreign entities or people, particularly those perceived as 'barbarians' in historical contexts. This character finds usage in expressions related to prosperity and cultural exchange.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#44470DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

蕃 is historically significant in the context of the Tang Dynasty, which engaged with various foreign cultures. The term 吐蕃 (Tu3 bo1) specifically refers to the Tibetan Empire, showcasing how this character encapsulates both cultural interaction and historical narratives.

Memory Tip

Imagine a lush, green field (the radical '艹' meaning 'plant') flourishing with vibrant plants. Now, picture a group of foreigners (the meaning related to 'barbarians') coming to celebrate the abundance of this land, creating a vivid image of 蕃 as both growth and cultural interaction.

Meanings of 蕃

(bo1)
primary
1abundant, flourishing; barbarians, foreigners
2luxuriant
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蕃

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蕃

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 蕃

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a lush, green field (the radical '艹' meaning 'plant') flourishing with vibrant plants. Now, picture a group of foreigners (the meaning related to 'barbarians') coming to celebrate the abundance of this land, creating a vivid image of 蕃 as both growth and cultural interaction.

Usage Notes

Be cautious about the tone; 蕃 is not commonly used in modern formal contexts, so it may sound archaic or overly dramatic in everyday conversation. It often appears in historical texts or discussions about cultural diversity. Common collocations include phrases relating to prosperity or growth, such as 蕃茂 (flourishing).

HSK Study Tips

While 蕃 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial to understand its connections to words at HSK Level 5 and above that deal with cultural and historical themes. Focus on context usage and how the character fits into discussions of cultural exchange.

Cultural Note

蕃 is historically significant in the context of the Tang Dynasty, which engaged with various foreign cultures. The term 吐蕃 (Tu3 bo1) specifically refers to the Tibetan Empire, showcasing how this character encapsulates both cultural interaction and historical narratives.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蕃 with 番 (fān), which also means foreign or variant. For example, saying 蕃人 (bō rén) for 'foreigners' is incorrect; the proper term is 番人 (fān rén). Additionally, mispronouncing the tone can lead to confusion with other characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蕃

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Etymology of 蕃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 番 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

grass

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蕃?

Decomposition of 蕃

IDS Structure⿱艹番
Full Character
=
cao3
top
fan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蕃?

Write 蕃

Practice writing 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 蕃

蕃 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 5 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 1

Complete the Sentence

如果这种液体洒在花上以后, 会促使____茄结实.

This liquid, if sprayed on the flowers, helps to set the tomatoes.

Example Sentences for 蕃 (1)

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1
如果这种液体洒在花上以后, 会促使蕃茄结实.

rú guǒ zhè zhǒng yè tǐ sǎ zài huā shàng yǐ hòu, , huì cù shǐ fán qié jié.

This liquid, if sprayed on the flowers, helps to set the tomatoes.

Cultural Notes for 蕃

🏮Cultural insight

蕃 is historically significant in the context of the Tang Dynasty, which engaged with various foreign cultures. The term 吐蕃 (Tu3 bo1) specifically refers to the Tibetan Empire, showcasing how this character encapsulates both cultural interaction and historical narratives.

Word Family of 蕃

Words Containing This Character3
蕃茄tomato
luxuriant
吐蕃also pr. [Tǔ​fān]
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 蕃茄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蕃

In modern contexts, 蕃 generally refers to abundance or flourishing, but it is not commonly used in everyday language.