Meanings of 盘
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About 盘
Podcast: 盘
Podcast: 盘
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AI Study Notes for 盘
盘 (pán) vs 碟 (dié) — use 盘 for larger serving dishes or trays, while 碟 refers specifically to smaller plates or saucers.
Imagine a large, flat plate (盘) filled with delicious food that you carefully check before serving. The open shape of the character resembles a plate, and the sound 'pán' can remind you of 'pan'—think of cooking in a pan.
Be mindful that 盘 can also function as a classifier for specific items like dishes or coils, which may lead to confusion in casual conversation. It's more commonly used in informal contexts, but can appear in formal settings when discussing food or property.
While 盘 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK words related to food and dining. Focus on its various meanings and contexts, especially when dealing with food-related vocabulary.
In Chinese dining culture, the presentation of food on a 盘 (pán) is significant, as it reflects the host's care and attention. Serving meals on beautiful trays is a common practice during festive occasions.
Learners often confuse 盘 with 碟, incorrectly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我想要一个盘子' (I want a small plate) when they mean '碟子' (small plate) is a common error.
Pronunciation of 盘
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Etymology of 盘
Simplified form of 盤. Phonosemantic compound. 皿 represents the meaning and 般 represents the sound.
dish
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 盘?
Decomposition of 盘
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 盘?
Write 盘
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Practice writing 盘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 盘
盘 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 14 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.
Complete the Sentence
他吃个没完，一____接一盘。
He ate endlessly, plate after plate.
Common Confusions with 盘
Different radical but visually similar.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "plate"?
Usage Notes for 盘
Learners often confuse 盘 when referring to food versus its use in computing.
我喜欢这个盘子。
I like this plate.
我需要一个新的硬盘。
I need a new hard drive.
Fill in the Blank
我喜欢这个____子。
I like this plate.
Example Sentences for 盘 (10)
Cultural Notes for 盘
在中国文化中，盘子不仅用于盛放食物，而且象征着家庭团聚和分享。在节日时，家人会围坐在一起，分享盛满食物的盘子，象征团圆与和谐。
In Chinese dining culture, the presentation of food on a 盘 (pán) is significant, as it reflects the host's care and attention. Serving meals on beautiful trays is a common practice during festive occasions.
「有盘就有饭」——这句谚语强调了吃饭的基本条件，意味着只要有食物的盘子，就一定能够享受饭菜。
Word Family of 盘
Compound Meaning
What does 盘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 盘
Yes, aside from referring to food items like plates and dishes, 盘 is also used in the context of technology, specifically for hard drives. Furthermore, it can indicate the act of building or assembling something.