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丙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
丙
bǐng
third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]
HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
third in order
HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
letter "C" or roman "III" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etc
HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
propyl
HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
third; 3rd heavenly stem
HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
丙
bǐng
ancient Chinese compass point: 165°
HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Very Hard
bǐng(bing3)bing T3
1third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]
2third in order
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
丙bǐng(bing3)
The character 丙 (bǐng) refers to the third of the ten Heavenly Stems, a traditional Chinese system used for timekeeping and the Chinese zodiac. It is also used to denote the third item in a list, similar to the letters 'A, B, C' in English or the Roman numerals 'I, II, III'. In specific contexts, it can relate to propyl, a chemical group.
Strokes5Radical一Frequency#12260DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the Heavenly Stems are significant in various aspects, including astrology, traditional medicine, and Feng Shui. 丙, being the third stem, has a unique role in predicting personality traits and auspicious dates.
Memory tip
Imagine a three-legged stool, where each leg represents a stem. The third leg, 'bǐng', is a sturdy support, reminding you that it's the third in a stable structure. You can visualize it as 'Bing' from 'bǐng' balancing perfectly in the middle.
Meanings of 丙
bǐng(bing3)
1third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]
2third in order
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 丙 means.
About 丙
丙Simplified
5Strokes
一Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12260Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 丙
Podcast: 丙
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AI study notes for 丙
Usage Notes
丙 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in literature and historical texts referring to the Heavenly Stems. Common mistakes include confusing it with its homophones or using it incorrectly in informal lists. Remember to use the correct tone (bǐng) to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 丙 connects with other terms related to traditional Chinese cosmology and timekeeping. Students should focus on understanding its use in historical and cultural contexts, as well as its role in lists and categorization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 丙 with its similar-sounding characters like 病 (bìng, meaning 'illness'). For example, saying '我有丙' (wǒ yǒu bǐng) instead of '我有病' (wǒ yǒu bìng) can lead to confusion. Always ensure you're using the correct character according to context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丙
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Knowing 丙 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.
How to say third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān] in Chinese
“third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]” in Chinese is丙bǐng
The character 丙 (bǐng) refers to the third of the ten Heavenly Stems, a traditional Chinese system used for timekeeping and the Chinese zodiac. It is also used to denote the third item in a list, similar to the letters 'A, B, C' in English or the Roman numerals 'I, II, III'. In specific contexts, it can relate to propyl, a chemical group.
When to use 丙
丙 is often used in formal contexts, particularly in literature and historical texts referring to the Heavenly Stems. Common mistakes include confusing it with its homophones or using it incorrectly in informal lists. Remember to use the correct tone (bǐng) to avoid misunderstandings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 丙 with its similar-sounding characters like 病 (bìng, meaning 'illness'). For example, saying '我有丙' (wǒ yǒu bǐng) instead of '我有病' (wǒ yǒu bìng) can lead to confusion. Always ensure you're using the correct character according to context.
Write 丙
丙
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Practice writing 丙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 丙
丙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 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.
解决了最初的一些问题之后，终于成功地制造出了大量____酮。
After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
Example sentences for 丙 (15)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
解决了最初的一些问题之后，终于成功地制造出了大量丙酮。
jiějué le zuìchū de yìxiē wèntí zhīhòu， zhōngyú chénggōng dì zhìzào chū le dàliàng bǐng tóng。
After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
