Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
釆biàn(bian4)
The character 釆 (biàn) primarily means to distinguish or to gather. It is often used in contexts related to differentiating between objects or collecting items, especially in older texts. Its meaning can also be associated with the act of picking or selecting.
Strokes7Radical釆Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese practices, gathering herbs or plants is an important aspect of herbal medicine, which ties back to the meaning of this character. The act of picking and collecting is often celebrated in cultural festivals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (the radical 釆 looks like a hand) picking different fruits from a tree. Each fruit represents a different choice or distinction he is making. Remember 'biàn' sounds like 'ban,' as in 'banquet,' where you distinguish between various dishes.
Meanings of 釆
biàn(bian4)
1to distinguish; to pick, to gather, to collect
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 釆
釆Simplified
7Strokes
釆Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 釆
Podcast: 釆
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 釆
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (the radical 釆 looks like a hand) picking different fruits from a tree. Each fruit represents a different choice or distinction he is making. Remember 'biàn' sounds like 'ban,' as in 'banquet,' where you distinguish between various dishes.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 釆 with 辨 (biàn), which means 'to differentiate' in a more abstract sense. It is not commonly used in modern language, so use it with caution in formal contexts. Be mindful of its tone, as it carries a fourth tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 釆 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other words related to distinguishing and gathering. Focus on recognizing its form and historical usage, as it may appear in classical texts.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese practices, gathering herbs or plants is an important aspect of herbal medicine, which ties back to the meaning of this character. The act of picking and collecting is often celebrated in cultural festivals.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 釆 with similar characters like 采 (cǎi). For example, using 釆 in a sentence like '我去釆水果' (I go to pick fruit) is incorrect; the correct verb would be 采 (cǎi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 釆
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 釆 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 釆 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 釆
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese practices, gathering herbs or plants is an important aspect of herbal medicine, which ties back to the meaning of this character. The act of picking and collecting is often celebrated in cultural festivals.
Word Family of 釆
Words Containing This Character1
釆biànto distinguish
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 釆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 釆
No, 釆 is mostly found in classical texts and is not commonly used in everyday language.
You may say something like '他在山上采集植物' (He is gathering plants on the mountain), using the more common character for 'gathering'.
Yes, more commonly used synonyms include 采 (cǎi) and 收集 (shōují) for gathering.
