HSK 7, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #8826, Very Hard
fèn(fen4) T4
1manure, dung; shit, excrement
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#8826DifficultyVery Hard
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.
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.
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.
Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 共 represents the sound. Simplified form of 糞.
1The meaning half米 carries the sense.
2The sound half共 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrain
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 粪? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 粪?
Decomposition of 粪
IDS Structure⿱米共
粪Full Character
=
米Mi3
top
共gong4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 粪?
How to say manure, dung; shit, excrement in Chinese
“manure, dung; shit, excrement” in Chinese is粪fèn
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.
When to use 粪
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).
粪 or something close to it
屎 (shǐ) - use 粪 (fèn) when referring specifically to manure used for fertilizer, while 屎 (shǐ) is more general for excrement.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 粪
粪
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.
