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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#4452DifficultyHard
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
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About 扮
扮Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4452Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 扮
Podcast: 扮
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
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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 the Sentence
He is the one who plays this role.
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Common Confusions with 扮
扮vs办
bàn
Same pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character 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.
Annette's performance as Eliza Doolittle in "Pygmalion" was truly memorable.
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.
🏮Cultural insight
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.
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
Compound Meaning
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'.
