HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
聘
pìn
to hire
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
聘
pìn
to betroth
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
聘
pìn
betrothal gift
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
聘
pìn
to get married (of woman)
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
聘
pìn
to employ, to engage; betrothed
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13233, Hard
pìn(pin4) T4
1to engage (a teacher etc)
2to hire
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March 24, 2026
聘pìn(pin4)
The character 聘 (pìn) primarily means to engage or hire someone, often in the context of employing teachers or other professionals. Additionally, it has connotations related to marriage, particularly in the sense of betrothal or the act of getting married, typically from the woman's perspective. This dual usage makes it relevant in both professional and personal contexts.
Strokes13Radical耳Frequency#13233DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 聘 is significant during wedding preparations, where the betrothal gifts (聘礼) are exchanged as a formal agreement between families, reflecting the importance of familial ties in marriage.
Memory Tip
Think of 聘 (pìn) as a combination of the 'ear' (耳) and 'message' (言) components, suggesting that you 'listen to the words' of someone you wish to hire or marry. Imagine a teacher sharing wisdom and a groom promising love, both requiring careful attention to their messages.
Meanings of 聘
pìn(pin4)
1to engage (a teacher etc)
2to hire
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 聘
聘Simplified
13Strokes
耳Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13233Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 聘
Podcast: 聘
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AI Study Notes for 聘
Quick Contrast
聘 (pìn) vs 雇 (gù) — use 聘 (pìn) specifically for engaging professionals or in marriage contexts, whereas 雇 (gù) is used for hiring workers in a more general employment sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 聘 (pìn) as a combination of the 'ear' (耳) and 'message' (言) components, suggesting that you 'listen to the words' of someone you wish to hire or marry. Imagine a teacher sharing wisdom and a groom promising love, both requiring careful attention to their messages.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 聘 (pìn) with similar-sounding words like 职 (zhí), which means 'position' or 'job.' It's important to remember that 聘 is more about engagement and relationships, while 职 focuses on roles. The tone can also be tricky; ensure you maintain the fourth tone to avoid miscommunication.
HSK Study Tips
Although 聘 is not specifically listed in HSK, it connects to themes of employment and relationships found in HSK Level 4 and 5 vocabulary, such as 雇佣 (gùyōng, to hire) and 婚礼 (hūnlǐ, wedding). Students should practice using 聘 in sentences related to hiring and marriages to solidify their understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 聘 is significant during wedding preparations, where the betrothal gifts (聘礼) are exchanged as a formal agreement between families, reflecting the importance of familial ties in marriage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 聘 with 职 (zhí) or 婚 (hūn), leading to incorrect phrases like '聘工作的老师' instead of '聘请工作的老师' (hiring a working teacher). Remember that 聘 is specifically about the act of engaging someone.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 聘
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Grammar Patterns of 聘
聘 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 6 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.
tā zhāo pìn le liǎng gè dǒng duō zhǒng yǔ yán de gōng chéng shī。
He recruited two multilingual engineers.
Cultural Notes for 聘
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 聘 is significant during wedding preparations, where the betrothal gifts (聘礼) are exchanged as a formal agreement between families, reflecting the importance of familial ties in marriage.
Word Family of 聘
Words Containing This Character20
招聘zhāopìnto recruit
聘请pìnqǐngto engage聘請
聘pìnto hire
应聘yìngpìnto accept a job offer應聘
聘用pìnyòngto employ
招聘会job fair招聘會
聘任pìnrènappointed
解聘to sack
受聘hired (for employment)
应聘者person taking a job應聘者
聘书contract聘書
聘礼betrothal gift聘禮
招聘者prospective employer
聘金betrothal money (given to the bride's family)
延聘to hire
征聘to recruit徵聘
下聘to send the betrothal gifts
聘问to visit as envoy聘問
缓聘to defer employment緩聘
纳聘to pay bride-price (payment to the bride's family in former times)納聘
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 招聘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 聘
Some synonyms for 聘 (pìn) include 雇用 (gùyòng), which means to employ, and 订婚 (dìnghūn), which refers specifically to engagement. While 雇用 focuses on the employment aspect, 订婚 emphasizes the marriage proposal aspect.
Yes, 聘 (pìn) is still used in modern Chinese, particularly in formal contexts like hiring professionals or discussing engagements. However, in everyday language, you might encounter simpler terms for hiring, while the betrothal aspect is often discussed in cultural or traditional contexts.
聘 (pìn) means to engage or hire someone, often referring to teachers or professionals. It can also imply a betrothal or engagement, especially in the context of marriage. In some cases, it denotes the act of marrying, particularly from the woman's perspective.
You can use 聘 (pìn) in sentences like '他聘请了一位老师' (Tā pìnqǐngle yī wèi lǎoshī), meaning 'He hired a teacher.' Another example is '我们在进行聘婚的仪式' (Wǒmen zài jìnxíng pìn hūn de yíshì), which translates to 'We are conducting the betrothal ceremony.'
You can say, '他聘请了一个老师' (Tā pìnqǐngle yīgè lǎoshī), meaning 'He hired a teacher.'
聘 is generally used in formal contexts, especially related to employment or marriage arrangements.
No, 聘 is neutral and typically carries a positive meaning in the context of hiring or engagement.
