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March 24, 2026
派pài(pai4)
The character 派 (pài) primarily means 'to dispatch' or 'to send,' and is often used in contexts involving assigning tasks or appointing individuals to specific roles. It can also refer to a group or faction with a shared ideology or interest, such as a political clique or school of thought.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#559DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese political discourse, 派 often refers to various factions within parties, reflecting the complex nature of political alliances and rivalries in Chinese history, such as the 'Three Factions' during the Warring States period.
Memory Tip
Imagine a group (派) of people standing in a line, each waiting to be sent off on different tasks. The character’s left side (氵) represents water, suggesting fluid movement, while the right side (白) looks like a person waving goodbye, emphasizing the act of sending someone away.
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AI Study Notes for 派
Quick Contrast
派 (pài) vs 送 (sòng) — use 派 when emphasizing the act of dispatching or assigning roles, whereas 送 focuses on the act of delivering something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a group (派) of people standing in a line, each waiting to be sent off on different tasks. The character’s left side (氵) represents water, suggesting fluid movement, while the right side (白) looks like a person waving goodbye, emphasizing the act of sending someone away.
Usage Notes
Be cautious about using 派 in the wrong context; for example, it should not be confused with similar-sounding words like 排 (pái), which means 'to arrange.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal registers, especially in discussions about organizations or political groups.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, 派 is a useful word that connects to themes of organization and group dynamics. Focus on its application in sentences regarding appointments or discussions about different factions to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese political discourse, 派 often refers to various factions within parties, reflecting the complex nature of political alliances and rivalries in Chinese history, such as the 'Three Factions' during the Warring States period.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 派 (pài) with the unrelated character 派 (pāi), leading to incorrect usage in sentences about sending people or things. For example, saying '我派你的书' (Wǒ pāi nǐ de shū) instead of '我派你的书' (Wǒ pài nǐ de shū) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 派
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Grammar Patterns of 派
派 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 12 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.
There has been a substantial amount of factionalism within the movement.
Cultural Notes for 派
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese political discourse, 派 often refers to various factions within parties, reflecting the complex nature of political alliances and rivalries in Chinese history, such as the 'Three Factions' during the Warring States period.
Word Family of 派
Compounds2
蒎pai4pinane
鎃
Words Containing This Character20
派pàiclique
派对party (loanword)派對
派出所local police station
派出pàichūto send
帮派gang幫派
派遣pàiqiǎnto dispatch
特派task force
指派to assign
反动派reactionaries反動派
党派faction黨派
反对派opposition faction反對派
正派upright
派送to send
什叶派Shia sect (of Islam)什葉派
气派qìpàiimposing manner or style氣派
教派sect
派别pàibiégroup派別
学派school of thought學派
委派to appoint
流派genre
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蒎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 派
Yes, 派 (pài) can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal situations, it may refer to official groups or factions, while in casual conversation, it can describe friend groups or informal cliques.
派 (pài) often implies a sense of sending someone on a mission or to a specific location, while 发送 (fā sòng) generally refers to sending items or messages. Understanding the context of each verb is important for their correct usage.
You can use 派 (pài) to refer to a group or faction, such as in the sentence '他们是一个新派,' meaning 'They are a new faction.' It can also refer to sending someone somewhere, as in '我派他去市场,' meaning 'I sent him to the market.'
派 (pài) can mean 'clique,' 'school,' 'group,' or 'faction.' It is also used as a verb meaning 'to dispatch' or 'to send.' This character is often used in contexts related to groups or sending something.
While 派 emphasizes assigning or dispatching someone or something, 发送 (fāsòng) is more about sending messages or items without the connotation of appointment.
Yes, 派 is commonly used in business when discussing delegating tasks or sending employees to different projects.
Yes, be careful not to confuse 派 (pài) with other similar-sounding words like 拍 (pāi), which means 'to clap' or 'to take a photo.'
