Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
贩(販)fàn(fan4)
The character 贩 (fàn) refers to the act of dealing in goods, often implying a focus on buying and selling, retailing, or peddling items. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, trade, and merchants, particularly those who sell goods in smaller quantities or directly to consumers.
Strokes8Radical贝Frequency#14563DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese markets, peddlers often play a crucial role in local economies, selling goods directly to consumers and reflecting a rich history of informal trade practices in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a merchant (the character's meaning) holding a fan (the sound of 'fàn') made of money, symbolizing trade. The radical '走' (zǒu), meaning 'to walk,' hints at the movement involved in selling and buying.
Meanings of 贩
fàn(fan4)
1to deal in
2to buy and sell
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 贩 means.
About 贩
贩Simplified
販Traditional
8Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14563Frequency Rank
Podcast: 贩
Podcast: 贩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 贩
Quick Contrast
贩 (fàn) vs 销 (xiāo) — use 贩 for the act of dealing or peddling goods, while 销 emphasizes the act of selling or distributing.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of using 贩 in formal contexts, as it often carries an informal or colloquial connotation of retail or peddling. Common collocations include '贩卖' (fànmài) meaning 'to sell' or 'to peddle.' Ensure you pronounce it with the fourth tone to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it relates closely to trading terms you might encounter at HSK Level 3 and above, such as '买' (mǎi - to buy) and '卖' (mài - to sell). Focus on the context of commerce and how it integrates with other verbs related to transactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 贩 with the more general term 卖 (mài - to sell), which can lead to vague usage. For example, saying '我贩书' (wǒ fàn shū) to mean 'I sell books' may sound informal; it's better to say '我卖书' (wǒ mài shū).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贩
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 贩 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 贩 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 贩?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 贩 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.
贩 = 贝 + 反. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 贩
IDS Structure⿰贝反
贩Full Character
=
贝Bei4
left
反fan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 贩?
How to say to deal in in Chinese
“to deal in” in Chinese is贩fàn
The character 贩 (fàn) refers to the act of dealing in goods, often implying a focus on buying and selling, retailing, or peddling items. It is commonly used in contexts related to commerce, trade, and merchants, particularly those who sell goods in smaller quantities or directly to consumers.
When to use 贩
Be cautious of using 贩 in formal contexts, as it often carries an informal or colloquial connotation of retail or peddling. Common collocations include '贩卖' (fànmài) meaning 'to sell' or 'to peddle.' Ensure you pronounce it with the fourth tone to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.
贩 or something close to it
贩 (fàn) vs 销 (xiāo) — use 贩 for the act of dealing or peddling goods, while 销 emphasizes the act of selling or distributing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 贩 with the more general term 卖 (mài - to sell), which can lead to vague usage. For example, saying '我贩书' (wǒ fàn shū) to mean 'I sell books' may sound informal; it's better to say '我卖书' (wǒ mài shū).
Write 贩
贩
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 贩 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 贩
贩 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 6 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.
“阿道弗斯·克林，我以____毒的罪名逮捕你。”——“什么？”
"Adolphus Kelling, I arrest you on a charge of trafficking in narcotics."—"What?"
Don't be afraid to ask your fishmonger to fillet flat fish.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 贩?
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 300 AI credits.
Word Family of 贩
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 贩
What does 毒贩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贩
贩 specifically emphasizes the act of selling, often in a retail or informal context, while 买卖 (mǎimài) refers to the broader concept of buying and selling.
No, 贩 is typically used for retail or peddling, not for wholesale transactions, which are better described with words like 批发 (pīfā).
Yes, 贩 is still used today, especially in discussions about commerce, small businesses, and local markets.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 贩?
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.
