Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
販 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
販fànmerchant, peddler; to deal in, to tradex, 11 strokes, radical 貝
fàn(fan4)fan T4
  1. 1merchant, peddler; to deal in, to trade
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

販fàn(fan4)

The character 販 (fàn) refers to a merchant or peddler, someone who engages in trade or selling goods. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, business, and the exchange of products, often implying a more informal or small-scale trading activity.

Strokes11Radical貝
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese markets, street vendors or peddlers (販子) play a significant role in local economies, showcasing a culture of small-scale trade that is deeply embedded in community interactions. This character reflects the significance of trade practices in everyday life and historical commerce.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'fan' (fàn) that spreads out like a merchant's wares at a market. The character 販 resembles a person holding goods, while the radical 貝 (shell) hints at money and trade, connecting the imagery of commerce with the idea of a peddler selling goods.

Meanings of 販

fàn(fan4)
1merchant, peddler; to deal in, to trade
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 販 means.

About 販

販Simplified
11Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 販

JasonAmy

Podcast: 販

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 販

Quick Contrast

販 (fàn) vs 商 (shāng) — use 販 for informal or small-scale trade, while 商 refers to commerce in a broader, more formal sense.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 販, as it may sound informal compared to more formal terms for trade. Common collocations include 販賣 (fànmài, to sell) and 販售 (fànshòu, to sell or retail). Watch out for tonal mistakes; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 販 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to business terms that appear in various levels. Focus on connecting it with other commercial-related vocabulary, such as 商 (shāng, commerce) and 賣 (mài, to sell) to build a stronger vocabulary base.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 販 with other characters related to business, such as 商 (shāng). For example, saying '他是一個商販' (Tā shì yīgè shāngfàn) can be correct, but using just 商 in a context meant for a peddler can sound overly formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 販

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

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

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 販 to you

Let me explain 販 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 販 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 販?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 販 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 販

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

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 反 represents the sound. Simplified form of 販.

Memory hint

money

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

Origin

販 = 貝 + 反. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 販

IDS Structure⿰貝反
販Full character
=
貝bei4
left
反fan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 販?

How to say merchant, peddler; to deal in, to trade in Chinese

“merchant, peddler; to deal in, to trade” in Chinese is販fàn

The character 販 (fàn) refers to a merchant or peddler, someone who engages in trade or selling goods. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, business, and the exchange of products, often implying a more informal or small-scale trading activity.

When to use 販

Be mindful of the context in which you use 販, as it may sound informal compared to more formal terms for trade. Common collocations include 販賣 (fànmài, to sell) and 販售 (fànshòu, to sell or retail). Watch out for tonal mistakes; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with other words.

販 or something close to it

販 (fàn) vs 商 (shāng) — use 販 for informal or small-scale trade, while 商 refers to commerce in a broader, more formal sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 販 with other characters related to business, such as 商 (shāng). For example, saying '他是一個商販' (Tā shì yīgè shāngfàn) can be correct, but using just 商 in a context meant for a peddler can sound overly formal.

Write 販

販

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 販?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 販

Words containing this character16
毒贩drug dealer毒販
贩毒drugs trade販毒
贩卖fànmàito sell販賣
贩子trafficker販子
贩fànto deal in販
小贩xiǎofànpeddler小販
商贩shāngfàntrader商販
摊贩peddler攤販
票贩子ticket scalper票販子
贩运to transport (for sale)販運
量贩式at wholesale price量販式
贩私illegal trading販私
二道贩子middleman二道販子
贩夫走卒common people販夫走卒
小商贩small trader小商販
贩夫peddler販夫
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 販

What does 毒贩 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 販

You can say '他是一個販賣水果的商人' (Tā shì yīgè fànmài shuǐguǒ de shāngrén), meaning 'He is a merchant who sells fruits.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 販?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab