HSK 3, v, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #867, Medium
搬
bān
to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky)
HSK 3, v, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #867, Medium
搬
bān
to shift
HSK 3, v, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #867, Medium
搬
bān
to copy indiscriminately
HSK 3, v, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #867, Medium
搬
bān
to move, to remove, to shift, to transfer
HSK 3, v, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #867, Medium
bān(ban1) T1
1to move (i.e. relocate oneself)
2to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky)
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March 24, 2026
搬bān(ban1)
The character '搬' (bān) means 'to move' or 'to shift,' usually referring to relocating oneself or carrying something heavy. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical movement of objects, like moving furniture or transferring items from one place to another. The word can also imply a less formal concept of copying or shifting ideas indiscriminately.
Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#867DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, moving houses is often accompanied by rituals to ensure good fortune, making '搬' significant not just as a physical action but also as a cultural event. It's common to consult a fortune teller about the best day to move.
Memory Tip
Imagine two strong arms lifting a heavy box, symbolizing '搬' (bān), which means to move something bulky. Picture the arms as the character's two components, where the left suggests action and the right indicates the idea of carrying or shifting.
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AI Study Notes for 搬
Quick Contrast
搬 (bān) vs 移 (yí) — use 搬 when referring specifically to moving or carrying items, while 移 is more appropriate for abstract or less physical movements.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two strong arms lifting a heavy box, symbolizing '搬' (bān), which means to move something bulky. Picture the arms as the character's two components, where the left suggests action and the right indicates the idea of carrying or shifting.
Usage Notes
'搬' is used in both formal and informal contexts, so be mindful of your audience. Common collocations include '搬家' (bān jiā - to move house) and '搬运' (bān yùn - to transport). A common mistake is confusing '搬' with '移' (yí), which implies a more gentle or subtle movement.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, '搬' connects to other verbs related to movement and action. Students should focus on using it in sentences about physical relocation and practice its collocations to enhance vocabulary around logistics and transportation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, moving houses is often accompanied by rituals to ensure good fortune, making '搬' significant not just as a physical action but also as a cultural event. It's common to consult a fortune teller about the best day to move.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '搬' with '带' (dài), which means 'to bring' or 'to carry.' For example, saying '我搬我的书去学校' (Wǒ bān wǒ de shū qù xuéxiào - I move my book to school) is incorrect; it should be '我带我的书去学校' (Wǒ dài wǒ de shū qù xuéxiào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 搬
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Grammar Patterns of 搬
搬 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 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Last night we hitched the horse to the cart and moved here.
9
“我该重新考虑她让我搬去和她一起住的提议，”他思忖着。
“ “ wǒ gāi zhòng xīn kǎo lǜ tā ràng wǒ bān qù hé tā yī qǐ zhù de tí，” yì ，” tā sī。
"I ought to reconsider her offer to move in," he mused.
10
查看一下你的保险单，看其是否对搬运过程中的破损和毁坏赔偿。
chá kàn yī xià nǐ de bǎo xiǎn dān， ， kàn qí shì fǒu duì bān yùn guò chéng zhōng de pò sǔn hé huǐ huài péi。
Check that your insurance policy covers breakages and damage during removals.
Cultural Notes for 搬
💡Did you know?
'搬' is often used in the context of moving homes, which is a significant event in Chinese culture. People often choose auspicious dates for moving to ensure good fortune in their new home.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, moving houses is often accompanied by rituals to ensure good fortune, making '搬' significant not just as a physical action but also as a cultural event. It's common to consult a fortune teller about the best day to move.
Word Family of 搬
Words Containing This Character16
搬bānto shift
搬家bānjiāremoval
搬迁bānqiānto move搬遷
搬走to carry
搬运freight搬運
照搬to copy
搬运工porter搬運工
搬动to move house搬動
搬出去to move out (vacate)
搬弄是非to tell tales
搬起石头砸自己的脚hoisted by one's own petard搬起石頭砸自己的腳
搬弄to fiddle with
搬用to copy and use
搬移to move (house)
搬兵to bring in troops
搬砖砸脚to boomerang搬磚砸腳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 搬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 搬
Synonyms for 搬 (bān) include 移动 (yídòng), which also means 'to move' or 'to shift'. Another synonym is 搬运 (bānyùn), which specifically refers to the act of transporting or carrying items.
You should use 搬 (bān) when referring to moving heavy or bulky items, while 移动 (yídòng) is more general and can refer to any type of movement. For example, if you are relocating furniture, 搬 is more appropriate, but for abstract movements like changing positions, 移动 is better suited.
搬 (bān) means 'to move' or 'to shift'. It can refer to relocating oneself or moving something that is relatively heavy or bulky. It's commonly used in contexts involving physical relocation, such as moving houses or furniture.
You can use 搬 (bān) in sentences like '我正在搬家' (Wǒ zhèngzài bān jiā), which means 'I am moving house'. It can be paired with objects to specify what is being moved, for example, '搬家具' (bān jiājù) means 'to move furniture'.
'搬' refers to moving heavy or bulky items, while '移' implies a gentler or more subtle shift, like relocating something small or changing a position.
Yes, '搬' can also refer to shifting ideas or concepts in a casual context, although it's primarily used for physical movement.
