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March 24, 2026
坟(墳)fén(fen2)
The character 坟 (fén) refers to a grave or tomb where a deceased person is buried. It can also denote a mound or embankment, and in some contexts, it relates to ancient texts or books. This term is commonly used in discussions about burial practices and memorials in Chinese culture.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#9545DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, visiting graves during the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a significant tradition, where families honor their ancestors by cleaning their graves and making offerings. The word 坟 is often used in this context.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'mound' where someone rests, which resembles the character 坟. The bottom part (土) represents 'earth' and signifies that something is buried beneath it, while the top resembles a roof protecting the grave—hence, 'grave' or 'tomb'. The pronunciation 'fén' can be remembered by thinking of 'funeral', linking it to how we honor the dead.
Meanings of 坟
fén(fen2)
1grave
2tomb
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 坟
坟Simplified
墳Traditional
7Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9545Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 坟
Podcast: 坟
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AI Study Notes for 坟
Quick Contrast
坟 (grave) vs 墓 (tomb) — use 坟 for informal or everyday references, while 墓 is more formal or literary.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'mound' where someone rests, which resembles the character 坟. The bottom part (土) represents 'earth' and signifies that something is buried beneath it, while the top resembles a roof protecting the grave—hence, 'grave' or 'tomb'. The pronunciation 'fén' can be remembered by thinking of 'funeral', linking it to how we honor the dead.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 坟 with similar terms like 墓 (mù), which also means tomb but is more formal. In informal contexts, 坟 is often used among friends or family discussing burial sites. Be careful with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 坟 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to Level 3-4 words related to family and death, such as 家 (jiā - family) and 死 (sǐ - death). Students should focus on recognizing how this term is used in relation to cultural practices around death and memorials.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, visiting graves during the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a significant tradition, where families honor their ancestors by cleaning their graves and making offerings. The word 坟 is often used in this context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 坟 with 墓, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我去墓' (wǒ qù mù - I go to the tomb) instead of '我去坟' (wǒ qù fén - I go to the grave) can lead to misunderstandings in casual conversations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坟
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Grammar Patterns of 坟
坟 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
两名男子站在新挖的____墓边。
Two men were standing by the freshly dug grave.
Example Sentences for 坟 (7)
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1
两名男子站在新挖的坟墓边。
liǎng míng nán zǐ zhàn zài xīn wā de fén mù biān。
Two men were standing by the freshly dug grave.
2
她掰开玫瑰花，将花瓣撒在坟墓上。
tā bāi kāi méi guī huā， ， jiāng huā bàn sā zài fén mù。
She tore the rose apart and scattered the petals over the grave.
3
那座坟墓上散放着几朵红玫瑰.
nà zuò fén mù shàng sàn fàng zháo jī duǒ hóng méi guī.
A few red roses were scattered on the tomb.
4
坟墓之外也许还有些什么，你知道，并非万事皆空。
fén mù zhī wài yě xǔ huán yǒu xiē shí mó， ， nǐ zhī， dào ， bìng fēi wàn shì。
There might be something beyond the grave, you know, and not nothingness.
5
他们拔除了坟墓上的茂草和荨麻,砍断矮树和根株.
tā mén bá chú le fén mù shàng de mào cǎo hé qián má, , kǎn duàn ǎi shù hé gēn.
They plucked the long grass and nettles from the tombs, thinned the poor shrubs and roots.
6
大人, 这样的坟墓很多, 增加得也很快, 太穷了.
dà rén, , zhè yàng de fén mù hěn, duō , zēng jiā dé yě, hěn kuài ,.
Monseigneur, they are so many, they increase so fast, there is so much want.
7
“ 催他早进坟墓.
“ “ cuī tā zǎo jìn fén.
'Drive him fast to his tomb.
Cultural Notes for 坟
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, visiting graves during the Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) is a significant tradition, where families honor their ancestors by cleaning their graves and making offerings. The word 坟 is often used in this context.
Word Family of 坟
Words Containing This Character12
坟墓fénmùgrave墳墓
坟féngrave墳
自掘坟墓to dig one's own grave自掘墳墓
坟地graveyard墳地
祖坟ancestral tomb祖墳
上坟the Qingming festival上墳
坟头burial mound墳頭
坟场cemetery墳場
坟茔grave墳塋
坟山hill cemetery墳山
坟丘a tomb墳丘
寿王坟Shouwangfen town, in Chengde 承德市[Chéngdéshì], Hebei壽王墳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 坟墓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 坟
坟 (fén) is more informal and often refers to a grave, while 墓 (mù) is more formal and can refer to a tomb or burial site.
It is commonly used when discussing burial sites, especially in family contexts or during memorial events.
Yes, related words include 墓地 (mùdì - cemetery) and 安葬 (ānzàng - burial) which are often used when talking about death and burial practices.
