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丙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
丙bǐngthird of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngthird in orderHSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngletter "C" or roman "III" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etcHSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngpropylHSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngthird; 3rd heavenly stemHSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngthird of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
丙bǐngancient Chinese compass point: 165°HSK 7, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 一, rank #12260, Hard
bǐng(bing3) T3
  1. 1third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]
  2. 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#12260DifficultyHard
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

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About 丙

丙Simplified
5Strokes
一Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12260Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 丙

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Podcast: 丙

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AI Study Notes for 丙

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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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Etymology of 丙

Explanation

Origin unclear. Variously explained as a table or pedestal, or a fish tail.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 丙

IDS Structure⿱一内
丙Full Character
=
一yi1
top
内nei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 丙?

Write 丙

丙

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

Complete the Sentence

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 (10)

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。

jiě jué le zuì chū de yī xiē wèn tí zhī hòu， ， zhōng yú chéng gōng dì zhì zào chū le dà liáng bǐng。

After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
2
我用水彩比用油画颜料或丙烯酸颜料要少得多。

wǒ yòng shuǐ cǎi bǐ yòng yóu huà yán liào huò bǐng xī suān yán liào yào shǎo dé duō。

I use watercolours much less than I do oils or acrylics.
3
它含50%的羊毛、50%的丙烯酸纤维。

tā hán50% 50% de yáng、50% máo 、50% de bǐng xī suān。

It's 50 per cent wool, 50 per cent acrylic.
4
方法: 将302位天冬酰胺(Asn302)突变为丙氨酸(Ala302 ),构建非糖基化尿激酶原.

fāng fǎ: :302 jiāng 302 wèi tiān dōng(Asn302) xiān àn (Asn302) tū biàn wéi(Ala302), bǐng ān suān (Ala302 ), gòu jiàn fēi táng jī huà.

Methods: Non - glycosylated pro - urokinase was created by Asn 302 - Ala 302 mutagenesis.
5
丙氨酸在转氨作用中似乎是更好的氨基酸.

bǐng ān suān zài zhuǎn ān zuò yòng zhōng sì hū shì gēng hǎo de ān jī suān.

Alanine appears to be the preferred amino acid in the transamination.
6
这两个氨基酸从丙酮酸获得它们的碳架.

zhè liǎng gè ān jī suān cóng bǐng tóng suān huò dé tā mén de tàn jià.

These two amino acids derive their carbon skeletons from pyruvate.
7
将乙酰丙酮铁, 苯基B- 萘胺及磷脂通过40目筛加入.

jiāng yǐ xiān bǐng tóng tiě, , běnB- jī B- nài àn jí lín zhī40 tōng guò 40 mù.

The ferric acetylacetonate, phenyl betanaphthylamine , and lecithin are added through 40 - mesh screen.
8
在苯或乙酸乙酯溶液中其衰减速度随甲基丙烯酸甲脂浓度呈直线地增大.

zài běn huò yǐ suān yǐ zhǐ róng yè zhōng qí shuāi jiǎn sù dù suí jiǎ jī bǐng xī suān jiǎ zhī nóng dù chéng zhí xiàn dì zēng dà.

In benzene or ethyl acetate solution rates increase linearly with methyl methacrylate concentration.
9
某种蟑螂喷射一种催泪性毒气――乙 基丙烯 醛.

mǒu zhǒng zhāng láng pēn shè yī zhǒng cuī lèi xìng dú qì―― ―― yǐ jī bǐng.

A species of cockroach sprays a substance , ethylacrolein, that is a kind of tear gas.
10
硝化对位异丙基甲苯时会生成二硝基甲苯.

xiāo huà duì wèi yì bǐng jī jiǎ běn shí huì shēng chéng èr xiāo jī jiǎ běn.

The nitration of pcymene may lead to dinitrotoluene.

Cultural Notes for 丙

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 丙

Compounds18
病bing4illness
柄bing3handle, lever, knob; authority
陋lou4low
炳bing3bright, luminous; glorious
蛃
寎
怲
昞
昺
苪
邴Bing3an ancient city; pleased, happy; surname
抦
氞
眪
窉
鈵
陃
鞆
Words Containing This Character20
丙bǐngpropyl
丙烷propane
丙酮acetone CH3COCH
丙烯酸acrylic acid C3H4O2
聚丙烯polypropylene
丙烯propylene C3H6
丙型肝炎hepatitis C
丙二醇propylene glycol
丙醇propanol
丙氨酸alanine (Ala), an amino acid
丙子thirteenth year C1 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1996 or 2056
丙午forty-third year C7 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1966 or 2026
丙辰fifty-third year C5 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1976 or 2036
丙寅third year C3 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1986 or 2046
丙申thirty-third year C9 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1956 or 2016
苯丙胺amphetamine (medical)
丙酮酸pyruvic acid CH3COCOOH
丙烯酸酯acrylic ester
异丙醇isopropanol異丙醇
丙烯腈acrylo-nitrile
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 病 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 丙

丙 is not commonly used in everyday conversation but appears in formal or academic discussions about astrology or traditional Chinese systems.