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棻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
棻fēnsandalwoodzg, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnaromatic woodunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnperfumeunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
棻fēnfragranceunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木
fēn(fen1) T1
  1. 1sandalwood
  2. 2aromatic wood
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

棻fēn(fen1)

The character 棻 (fēn) refers to sandalwood, a type of aromatic wood known for its fragrant properties. It's commonly used in incense, perfumes, and traditional Chinese medicine, highlighting its significance in cultural and spiritual practices.

Strokes12Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sandalwood is highly valued not only for its fragrance but also for its use in rituals and meditation practices. It's often associated with spiritual purity and is used in temples to create a serene atmosphere.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fragrant sandalwood tree (木) growing tall and strong, with its aroma (芬) filling the air. The character combines the wood radical (木) and the phonetic component (芬), which also means 'fragrance'. Picture a tree that, when cut, releases a sweet scent that wraps around you like a warm hug.

Meanings of 棻

fēn(fen1)
1sandalwood
2aromatic wood
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 棻

棻Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 棻

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Podcast: 棻

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AI Study Notes for 棻

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 棻 is more formal and often used in literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other types of wood, like 杉 (shān, cedar), which is less aromatic. When discussing scents or fragrances, it’s best to pair this word with terms like 香 (xiāng) for a more vivid description.

HSK Study Tips

While 棻 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK level 3 and 4 words related to nature and scents, like 香 (xiāng) for 'fragrant'. Students should focus on recognizing this character in texts about traditional Chinese practices or perfumery.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 棻 with other similar-sounding words like 芬 (fēn, fragrance), which refers specifically to scent rather than the wood itself. Correct usage would be to specify 棻 when discussing the wood or its applications.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 棻

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Etymology of 棻

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)分
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 棻

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half分 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 棻? 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 棻?

Decomposition of 棻

IDS Structure⿱艹⿱分木
棻Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
分fen1
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 棻?

How to say sandalwood in Chinese

“sandalwood” in Chinese is棻fēn

The character 棻 (fēn) refers to sandalwood, a type of aromatic wood known for its fragrant properties. It's commonly used in incense, perfumes, and traditional Chinese medicine, highlighting its significance in cultural and spiritual practices.

When to use 棻

Be mindful that 棻 is more formal and often used in literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other types of wood, like 杉 (shān, cedar), which is less aromatic. When discussing scents or fragrances, it’s best to pair this word with terms like 香 (xiāng) for a more vivid description.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 棻 with other similar-sounding words like 芬 (fēn, fragrance), which refers specifically to scent rather than the wood itself. Correct usage would be to specify 棻 when discussing the wood or its applications.

Write 棻

棻

Practice writing 棻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 棻

Words Containing This Character1
棻fēnperfume
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 棻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 棻

Sandalwood is used in incense for meditation, in traditional medicine, and as an ingredient in perfumes.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 棻?

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.