Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
粪(糞)fèn(fen4)
The character 粪 (fèn) refers to manure or dung, commonly used in agricultural contexts to denote animal waste used as fertilizer. It can also colloquially refer to excrement in a vulgar manner. Understanding this term is essential for discussing farming, gardening, and waste management in Mandarin.
Strokes12Radical米Frequency#8826DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, animal dung has historically been a vital resource for fertilizing crops, reflecting the importance of sustainability in Chinese farming practices. This character is often associated with rural life in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (the character's radical) holding a shovel full of dung (粪). The '口' (kǒu) inside the character reminds you of the mouth, connecting it to excrement. Picture the farmer saying 'fèn' while shoveling to make the pronunciation stick.
Meanings of 粪
fèn(fen4)
1manure, dung; shit, excrement
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 粪
粪Simplified
糞Traditional
12Strokes
米Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 粪
Podcast: 粪
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 粪
Quick Contrast
屎 (shǐ) - use 粪 (fèn) when referring specifically to manure used for fertilizer, while 屎 (shǐ) is more general for excrement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (the character's radical) holding a shovel full of dung (粪). The '口' (kǒu) inside the character reminds you of the mouth, connecting it to excrement. Picture the farmer saying 'fèn' while shoveling to make the pronunciation stick.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 粪 in conversation, as it can sound crude if used to refer to human waste. It's more appropriate in formal settings related to agriculture. Common collocations include '肥料粪' (fertilizer manure) and '牛粪' (cow dung).
HSK Study Tips
While 粪 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with agricultural terms that might appear in higher levels. Focus on using it in context, especially within discussions about farming and environmental science.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, animal dung has historically been a vital resource for fertilizing crops, reflecting the importance of sustainability in Chinese farming practices. This character is often associated with rural life in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 粪 with similar sounding words; for example, using '分' (fēn), which means 'to divide', instead of 粪. Always remember that 粪 specifically refers to dung.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粪
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 粪 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 粪 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 粪
粪 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Marry is out in the pasture gathering cow flops for her garden.
10
他们忙忙乱乱地跑来跑去拾粪担土.
tā mén máng máng luàn luàn dì pǎo lái pǎo qù shí fèn dān tǔ.
They rushed about helter - skelter collecting dung and carrying earth.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
That guy's full of BS.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 粪
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese agriculture, animal dung has historically been a vital resource for fertilizing crops, reflecting the importance of sustainability in Chinese farming practices. This character is often associated with rural life in China.
Word Family of 粪
Words Containing This Character11
粪fènmanure糞
粪便fènbiànexcrement糞便
大粪human excrement大糞
粪土dung糞土
化粪池septic tank化糞池
粪肥manure糞肥
胎粪meconium胎糞
鸟粪guano鳥糞
喷粪to talk crap噴糞
马粪纸strawboard馬糞紙
视如粪土to look upon as dirt視如糞土
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 粪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 粪
While it primarily refers to animal manure, it can also be used informally to refer to human excrement as a vulgar term.
It's best to avoid using 粪 in formal writing unless discussing agriculture; use more polite terms like '排泄物' (excretions) for human waste.
It is pronounced as 'fèn', with a falling tone, similar to the English word 'fen'.
