HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4452, Very Hard
扮
bàn
to dress up
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4452, Very Hard
扮
bàn
to play (a role)
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4452, Very Hard
扮
bàn
to put on (an expression)
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4452, Very Hard
扮
bàn
costume, disguise; to dress up
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4452, Very Hard
bàn(ban4)ban T4
1to disguise oneself as
2to dress up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
扮bàn(ban4)
The character 扮 (bàn) means to disguise oneself or to dress up, often in the context of performing a role or adopting an appearance. It is commonly used in theatrical settings or when discussing costumes and makeup, indicating a transformation or portrayal of a character.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#4452DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, traditional performances like Peking opera often involve elaborate costumes and makeup, emphasizing the importance of 扮 in storytelling and character representation. This practice reflects a deep appreciation for theatrical art forms in Chinese heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a performer putting on a mask (扮) to disguise themselves as someone else, transforming their identity. The left component (扌) suggests action (like 'hands'), while the right (半) can symbolize 'half' or a change, as they become 'half' of the character they are portraying.
Meanings of 扮
bàn(ban4)
1to disguise oneself as
2to dress up
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 扮 means.
About 扮
扮Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4452Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 扮
Podcast: 扮
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 扮
Quick Contrast
扮 (bàn) vs 装 (zhuāng) — use 扮 when emphasizing the act of portraying a character, while 装 focuses more on the act of dressing or putting on clothes without the performance aspect.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 扮 with similar words like 装 (zhuāng), which means to dress or to load. 扮 is more specific to role-playing or disguising, and is typically used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 扮演 (bànyǎn), meaning 'to play a role'.
HSK Study Tips
While 扮 is not part of the standard HSK levels, learners can connect it to HSK vocabulary related to performance and identity, such as 角色 (juésè, character) and 表演 (biǎoyǎn, to perform). Focus on understanding its usage in theatrical contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 扮 in contexts unrelated to performance, such as in standard dressing scenarios. For example, saying '我今天扮衣服' (wǒ jīntiān bàn yīfú) is incorrect; the correct term is '我今天穿衣服' (wǒ jīntiān chuān yīfú) meaning 'I wear clothes today'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扮
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 扮 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 扮 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 扮?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 扮 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.
扮 = 扌 + 分. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 扮
IDS Structure⿰扌分
扮Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
分fen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 扮?
How to say to disguise oneself as in Chinese
“to disguise oneself as” in Chinese is扮bàn
The character 扮 (bàn) means to disguise oneself or to dress up, often in the context of performing a role or adopting an appearance. It is commonly used in theatrical settings or when discussing costumes and makeup, indicating a transformation or portrayal of a character.
When to use 扮
Be cautious not to confuse 扮 with similar words like 装 (zhuāng), which means to dress or to load. 扮 is more specific to role-playing or disguising, and is typically used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 扮演 (bànyǎn), meaning 'to play a role'.
扮 or something close to it
扮 (bàn) vs 装 (zhuāng) — use 扮 when emphasizing the act of portraying a character, while 装 focuses more on the act of dressing or putting on clothes without the performance aspect.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 扮 in contexts unrelated to performance, such as in standard dressing scenarios. For example, saying '我今天扮衣服' (wǒ jīntiān bàn yīfú) is incorrect; the correct term is '我今天穿衣服' (wǒ jīntiān chuān yīfú) meaning 'I wear clothes today'.
Write 扮
扮
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 扮 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 扮
扮 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.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
...
❝
他是扮演这个角色的。
tā shì bànyǎn zhège juésè de.
He is the one who plays this role.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build it
Put the words in order to say “He is the one who plays this role.”.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 扮
扮vs办
bàn
Same pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to disguise oneself as”?
or
Usage Notes for 扮
Misuse of 扮 and 角色Common Error
Some learners confuse '扮' with '角色' when referring to playing a role. 扮 means to disguise or dress up, while 角色 refers specifically to the role itself.
1
他扮演了一个重要的角色。
He played an important role.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
Annette's performance as Eliza Doolittle in "Pygmalion" was truly memorable.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 扮?
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.
Cultural Notes for 扮
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese theater, actors often扮 (bàn) different roles that can include historical figures, mythical characters, or even animals. The practice of dressing up is not just for performance but is also a way to convey cultural stories and values.
Word Family of 扮
Words Containing This Character11
扮演bànyǎnto act
打扮dǎbanto decorate
扮bànto dress up
装扮zhuāngbànto decorate裝扮
假扮to impersonate
扮相stage costume
乔装打扮to dress up in disguise (idiom); to pretend for the purpose of deceit喬裝打扮
女扮男装(of a woman) to dress as a man (idiom)女扮男裝
男扮女装(of a man) to dress as a woman (idiom)男扮女裝
扮装to dress up and make up (like an actor)扮裝
短打扮shorts
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 扮
What does 扮演 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 扮
Some synonyms for 扮 include 装扮 (zhuāngbàn), which also means to dress up, and 伪装 (wěizhuāng), which means to disguise. These words may be used interchangeably depending on context but can have subtle differences in meaning.
Yes, 扮 can be used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing themes of acting, dressing up for festivals, or playful scenarios. For example, you might say '我们下周末去扮鬼' (Wǒmen xià zhōumò qù bàn guǐ), meaning 'We are going to dress up as ghosts next weekend.'
扮 (bàn) means to disguise oneself, to dress up, or to play a role. It can refer to putting on an expression or assuming a character in a performance. This character is often used in contexts related to acting or costume.
You can use 扮 in sentences like '他扮演了一个英雄的角色' (Tā bànyǎnle yīgè yīngxióng de juésè), which means 'He played the role of a hero.' It is commonly used when discussing acting or when someone is dressing up for a particular occasion.
扮 (bàn) specifically refers to disguising oneself or playing a role, while 装 (zhuāng) is more general, meaning to dress or to load.
Typically, 扮 is used in informal contexts, especially related to performance or costumes, rather than formal discussions.
You could say '他扮演了一个英雄' (tā bànyǎnle yīgè yīngxióng), meaning 'He played a hero'.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 扮?
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.
