HSK 3, v, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #742, Medium
遍
biàn
classifier for actions: one time
HSK 3, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 辶, rank #742, Medium
biàn(bian4) T4
1everywhere, all over, throughout
2classifier for actions: one time
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March 24, 2026
遍(徧)biàn(bian4)
The character 遍 (biàn) generally means 'everywhere' or 'all over.' It is commonly used to describe actions that occur thoroughly or completely, such as reading a book from cover to cover. In this context, it functions as a classifier for actions, indicating that something has happened once or completely.
Strokes12Radical辶Frequency#742DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often highly valued, especially in educational and professional settings. Using 遍 in phrases can reflect a diligent approach to tasks, resonating with the cultural appreciation for hard work and attention to detail.
Memory Tip
Imagine a map of a vast land where you can see every corner explored. The character 遍 (biàn) has the radical 辶, which suggests movement or travel, symbolizing the thoroughness of going everywhere. Picture a traveler who has 'been' (sounds like 'biàn') to every place on the map.
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AI Study Notes for 遍
Quick Contrast
遍 (biàn) vs 次 (cì) — use 遍 for actions done thoroughly, while 次 refers to the number of times an action occurs.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a map of a vast land where you can see every corner explored. The character 遍 (biàn) has the radical 辶, which suggests movement or travel, symbolizing the thoroughness of going everywhere. Picture a traveler who has 'been' (sounds like 'biàn') to every place on the map.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 遍 with other similar characters, as its specific meaning pertains to completeness and thoroughness. It is usually used in informal contexts, but can appear in formal writing as well. Common collocations include phrases like '遍历' (biànlì, to traverse) and '遍地' (biàndì, everywhere on the ground).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 遍 connects well with other verbs that describe actions or movements. Students should focus on how it interacts with verbs to indicate the extent of an action. Practice using it in sentences that describe experiences or actions taken completely.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often highly valued, especially in educational and professional settings. Using 遍 in phrases can reflect a diligent approach to tasks, resonating with the cultural appreciation for hard work and attention to detail.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 遍 by not pairing it correctly with verbs, leading to awkward phrases like '我遍看书' instead of '我读遍这本书' (I read this book completely). Pay attention to ensure it is used with a verb to convey the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遍
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Grammar Patterns of 遍
遍 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 2 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.
Jean-Phillippe had hitched all over Europe in the 1960s.
8
焦急万分的鲍勃和汉斯把整座房子找了个遍。
jiāo jí wàn fēn de bào bó hé hàn sī bǎ zhěng zuò fáng zǐ zhǎo le gè biàn。
Desperate with anxiety, Bob and Hans searched the whole house.
9
安德鲁，再听一遍好吗？
ān dé lǔ， ， zài tīng yī biàn hǎo？
Will you listen again, Andrew?
10
请再说一遍好吗？
qǐng zài shuō yī biàn hǎo ma？
Could you say it again, please?
Cultural Notes for 遍
💡Did you know?
The character '遍' is often used in Mandarin to express the idea of completing an action thoroughly, like reading a book or visiting a place. It's an essential word for expressing experiences in Chinese culture.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of thoroughness is often highly valued, especially in educational and professional settings. Using 遍 in phrases can reflect a diligent approach to tasks, resonating with the cultural appreciation for hard work and attention to detail.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many cultures, the concept of 'going over something thoroughly' can be very important. In Chinese, '遍' highlights the importance of fully experiencing a place or an activity before forming an opinion.
Word Family of 遍
Words Containing This Character18
遍biàneverywhere
普遍pǔbiànuniversal
遍布biànbùto cover the whole (area)
遍地biàndìeverywhere
遍及to extend (everywhere)
传遍to spread widely傳遍
普遍性ubiquity
跑遍to go everywhere
遍体鳞伤beaten black and blue遍體鱗傷
遍地开花to blossom everywhere遍地開花
漫山遍野covering everything
满山遍野covering the whole land滿山遍野
普遍化generalization (logic)
遍身over the whole body
哀鸿遍野starving people fill the land哀鴻遍野
遍历to traverse遍歷
漫天遍野as far as the eye can see
饿莩遍野starving people everywhere (idiom); a state of famine餓莩遍野
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 遍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 遍
遍 (biàn) and 次 (cì) are both used as classifiers for actions, but they have different connotations. 遍 emphasizes the thoroughness or completeness of an action, while 次 typically refers to the frequency or number of times something occurs. For example, '我去过三次' (Wǒ qù guò sān cì) means 'I have been there three times,' while '我看过这部电影一遍' (Wǒ kàn guò zhè bù diàn yǐng yī biàn) means 'I have watched this movie once.'
遍 (biàn) is a character in Chinese that means 'everywhere' or 'all over.' It is also used as a classifier for actions, indicating that something has happened one time. For example, you might say '我看遍了这本书' (Wǒ kàn biàn le zhè běn shū), meaning 'I have read this book from cover to cover.'
遍 (biàn) is often used to indicate that an action has been completed thoroughly or in its entirety. For example, when you want to say that you've done something once or all over, you can use it in a sentence like '我走遍了这个城市' (Wǒ zǒu biàn le zhè ge chéng shì), meaning 'I walked all over this city.'
You can say '我看完这本书遍' (Wǒ kàn wán zhè běn shū biàn), meaning 'I read this book completely.'
Yes, 遍 is primarily used as a classifier for actions to indicate they have been carried out thoroughly.
While it is more commonly used informally, 遍 can also appear in formal contexts, especially in written language.
