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槃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
槃pántray; to rotate, to turn; to searchHSK 7, zg, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #34631, Very Hard
槃pánwooden trayHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 木, rank #34631, Very Hard
pán(pan2) T2
  1. 1tray; to rotate, to turn; to search
  2. 2wooden tray
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

槃pán(pan2)

The character 槃 (pán) primarily means 'tray' or 'platter,' often referring to a wooden or bamboo tray used for serving food. It can also imply the action of rotating or turning, as well as searching through something. This character may be less common in everyday language but can appear in specific contexts related to serving or displaying items.

Strokes14Radical木Frequency#34631DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, serving food on a beautiful wooden tray symbolizes hospitality and respect towards guests. The aesthetic quality of the tray can reflect the importance of the occasion and the care taken in food presentation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'pan' (sounds like pán) that is elegantly crafted from wood, used to serve delicious dishes. Visualize it spinning gracefully on a table, embodying both the meaning of a tray and the action of turning. The wooden texture of the pan reinforces its connection to the character's components.

Meanings of 槃

pán(pan2)
1tray; to rotate, to turn; to search
2wooden tray
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 槃

槃Simplified
14Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 槃

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Podcast: 槃

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AI Study Notes for 槃

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 槃 with 盘 (pán), which has similar meanings but is more commonly used in spoken language. Use 槃 in formal contexts or when specifically referring to wooden trays. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 槃 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at higher levels who wish to expand their vocabulary related to serving and dining. Focus on recognizing its usage in literature or formal writing, as it may not appear in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to use 槃 interchangeably with 盘 in all contexts, which can sound overly formal. For example, saying '我用槃来盛菜' (I use a tray to serve dishes) is correct, but more commonly, one would say '我用盘来盛菜'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 槃

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Etymology of 槃

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

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)般
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 槃

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half般 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 槃? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 槃?

Decomposition of 槃

IDS Structure⿱般木
槃Full Character
=
般ban1
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 槃?

How to say tray; to rotate, to turn; to search in Chinese

“tray; to rotate, to turn; to search” in Chinese is槃pán

The character 槃 (pán) primarily means 'tray' or 'platter,' often referring to a wooden or bamboo tray used for serving food. It can also imply the action of rotating or turning, as well as searching through something. This character may be less common in everyday language but can appear in specific contexts related to serving or displaying items.

When to use 槃

Learners often confuse 槃 with 盘 (pán), which has similar meanings but is more commonly used in spoken language. Use 槃 in formal contexts or when specifically referring to wooden trays. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to use 槃 interchangeably with 盘 in all contexts, which can sound overly formal. For example, saying '我用槃来盛菜' (I use a tray to serve dishes) is correct, but more commonly, one would say '我用盘来盛菜'.

Write 槃

槃

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 槃

Words Containing This Character1
槃pánwooden tray
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 槃 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 槃

While both characters can refer to a tray, 槃 is less common and often specifically refers to wooden trays, while 盘 is used more generally.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 槃?

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.