Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
籃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
籃lánbasket; goalx, 20 strokes, radical ⺮
lán(lan2) T2
  1. 1basket; goal
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

籃lán(lan2)

The character 籃 (lán) primarily means 'basket' and is commonly used in contexts related to sports, particularly basketball, where it refers to the hoop or goal. It can also denote a container made of woven materials, such as a laundry basket or a shopping basket.

Strokes20Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, basketball has gained immense popularity, especially among the youth, and the term 籃 is often used in sports discussions. The growth of basketball culture in China can be traced back to the 1990s, with many local leagues and schools promoting the sport.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'basket' made of 'bamboo' (竹, zhú) and 'netting' (网, wǎng) to remember the components of 籃. Visualize a player shooting a basketball into the basket, with the character's pronunciation 'lán' sounding like the 'land' where the basket rests.

Meanings of 籃

lán(lan2)
1basket; goal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 籃 means.

About 籃

籃Simplified
20Strokes
⺮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 籃

JasonAmy

Podcast: 籃

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 籃

Quick Contrast

筐 (kuāng) - use 籃 (lán) when referring specifically to a basket used in sports contexts, while 筐 (kuāng) refers to a broader type of basket or container.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 籃 with other characters for container or basket. Remember that 籃 specifically refers to baskets that are woven or used in sports contexts. In everyday conversation, it is used in both formal and informal settings, especially in sports discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 籃 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners interested in sports-related vocabulary. Students should focus on connecting this term with related words like 篮球 (basketball) and other container-related terms.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 籃 when referring to a non-woven container, such as a plastic basket; in this case, use 盒子 (hézi) for 'box.' Another mistake is confusing 籃 with 篮, which is the simplified version and should be used in applicable contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 籃

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 籃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 籃 to You

Let me explain 籃 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 籃 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 籃?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 籃 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 籃

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籃.

Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)監
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

籃 = ⺮ + 監. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 籃

IDS Structure⿱⺮監
籃Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
監jian1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 籃?

How to say basket; goal in Chinese

“basket; goal” in Chinese is籃lán

The character 籃 (lán) primarily means 'basket' and is commonly used in contexts related to sports, particularly basketball, where it refers to the hoop or goal. It can also denote a container made of woven materials, such as a laundry basket or a shopping basket.

When to use 籃

Learners often confuse 籃 with other characters for container or basket. Remember that 籃 specifically refers to baskets that are woven or used in sports contexts. In everyday conversation, it is used in both formal and informal settings, especially in sports discussions.

籃 or something close to it

筐 (kuāng) - use 籃 (lán) when referring specifically to a basket used in sports contexts, while 筐 (kuāng) refers to a broader type of basket or container.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 籃 when referring to a non-woven container, such as a plastic basket; in this case, use 盒子 (hézi) for 'box.' Another mistake is confusing 籃 with 篮, which is the simplified version and should be used in applicable contexts.

Write 籃

籃

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 籃?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 籃

Words Containing This Character16
篮球lánqiúbasketball籃球
篮lánbasket (receptacle)籃
篮板backboard籃板
投篮to shoot for the basket (basketball)投籃
男篮men's basketball男籃
篮子basket籃子
摇篮yáoláncradle搖籃
扣篮slam dunk扣籃
篮球场basketball court籃球場
篮板球rebound (basketball)籃板球
摇篮曲lullaby搖籃曲
篮筐basket籃筐
菜篮子vegetable or food basket菜籃子
竹篮wicker basket竹籃
提篮a basket提籃
竹篮打水using a wicker basket to draw water (idiom); wasted effort竹籃打水
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 籃

What does 篮球 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 籃

There is no difference; 篮 is the simplified form of 籃 used in mainland China.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 籃?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab