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March 24, 2026
翻fān(fan1)
The character 翻 (fān) primarily means 'to turn over' or 'to flip.' It is commonly used in contexts such as flipping pages in a book, turning over food while cooking, or translating text. The word conveys a sense of movement and change, often associated with actions that involve reversing or changing the position of something.
Strokes18Radical羽Frequency#1628DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
翻 (fān) is often used in the context of the Chinese tradition of reading and studying classical texts, where flipping through pages is a common practice. It also reflects the importance of translation in Chinese culture, especially in interpreting classic literature and philosophy.
Memory Tip
Imagine flipping a pancake in a pan. The character 翻 has two parts that can help you remember its meaning: the 'wing' radical (羽) suggests movement, like a bird flipping in the air, while the 'to turn' (反) component reminds you of the action of turning things over. Together, they evoke the image of a pancake soaring through the air as it flips.
Meanings of 翻
fān(fan1)
1to turn over
2to flip over
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 翻
翻Simplified
18Strokes
羽Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1628Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 翻
Podcast: 翻
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AI Study Notes for 翻
Quick Contrast
翻 (fān) vs 转 (zhuǎn) — use 翻 for flipping or turning over, while 转 is for rotating or changing direction.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine flipping a pancake in a pan. The character 翻 has two parts that can help you remember its meaning: the 'wing' radical (羽) suggests movement, like a bird flipping in the air, while the 'to turn' (反) component reminds you of the action of turning things over. Together, they evoke the image of a pancake soaring through the air as it flips.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 翻; it is pronounced with a high level tone (fān). It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but learners should note that in formal writing, it typically refers to translating or decoding text rather than just flipping objects. Common collocations include 翻书 (to flip through a book) and 翻译 (to translate).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 翻 connects with other verbs related to movement and action, such as 跳 (tiào, to jump) and 走 (zǒu, to walk). Students should focus on using it in various contexts, particularly in conversation about activities involving change or translation, to strengthen their understanding.
Cultural Note
翻 (fān) is often used in the context of the Chinese tradition of reading and studying classical texts, where flipping through pages is a common practice. It also reflects the importance of translation in Chinese culture, especially in interpreting classic literature and philosophy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翻 with 反 (fǎn), which means 'to oppose' or 'to reverse.' For example, saying '翻对' (fān duì) instead of '反对' (fǎn duì) can lead to misunderstandings, as the meanings are quite different.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翻
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Grammar Patterns of 翻
翻 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 10 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.
I have been working on exploding the myth of fixity of meaning.
10
他声称被告是被诱骗的，从而推翻了有罪的判决。
tā shēng chēng bèi gào shì bèi yòu piàn de， ， cóng ér tuī fān le yǒu zuì de pàn。
He overturned the conviction, saying the defendant was entrapped.
Cultural Notes for 翻
💡Did you know?
The character 翻 (fān) has a connection with the concept of transformation, as it can signify not just physical flipping, but also turning pages in translation, symbolizing communication across cultures.
🏮Cultural insight
翻 (fān) is often used in the context of the Chinese tradition of reading and studying classical texts, where flipping through pages is a common practice. It also reflects the importance of translation in Chinese culture, especially in interpreting classic literature and philosophy.
Word Family of 翻
Words Containing This Character20
翻fānto turn over
翻译fānyìto translate翻譯
推翻tuīfānto overthrow
翻过to turn over翻過
翻身to turn over (when lying)
翻开to open up翻開
翻滚to roll翻滾
翻新to revamp
闹翻to have a falling out鬧翻
翻脸to fall out with sb翻臉
打翻to overturn
翻天覆地fāntiānfùdìeverything turned on its head
天翻地覆everything turned on its head
翻阅to thumb through翻閱
翻箱倒柜to overturn trunks and boxes翻箱倒櫃
翻修to overhaul
翻番fānfānto double
翻版to reprint
翻转to roll翻轉
翻来覆去fānláifùqùagain and again翻來覆去
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 翻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 翻
Common phrases include '翻译' (fānyì), meaning 'to translate', and '翻过来' (fān guòlái), meaning 'to turn over'. These phrases are frequently used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Yes, 翻 (fān) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially in contexts involving movement or translation. You might hear it in discussions about books, documents, or even when talking about turning over objects.
翻 (fān) means 'to turn over', 'to flip over', or 'to translate'. It can also refer to rummaging through something or decoding information. This versatile character is commonly used in various contexts.
You can use 翻 (fān) in sentences like '我翻了书' (I flipped through the book) or '请翻译这段文字' (Please translate this text). It’s a useful verb when discussing actions of turning or translating.
Common phrases include 翻译 (fān yì, to translate) and 翻书 (fān shū, to flip through a book).
You can remember 'fān' by associating it with the action of flipping, as both start with a similar sound.
Yes, 翻 can imply an overturning or upsetting, such as in the phrase 翻车 (fān chē, to overturn a vehicle), which has a negative connotation.
