Chinese Character: 篮
1. Character Basics
Radical: 竹 (bamboo radical)
Stroke Count: 16
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: lán (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Basket; basketry; container made of bamboo or wicker; basketball hoop
4. Common Words
- 篮球 (lánqiú) - basketball
- 篮子 (lánzi) - basket
- 竹篮 (zhúlán) - bamboo basket
- 菜篮 (càilán) - vegetable basket
- 摇篮 (yáolán) - cradle; baby's bed
- 篮网 (lánwǎng) - basketball net
- 篮板 (lánbǎn) - backboard (of basketball hoop)
- 投篮 (tóulán) - to shoot (a basketball); to make a basket
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "篮" is primarily used as a noun referring to containers, especially those made of bamboo or wicker. It is also widely used in the context of basketball.
Grammar Patterns:
- 篮+球: 篮球 (basketball)
- 篮+子: 篮子 (basket)
- 竹+篮: 竹篮 (bamboo basket)
- 菜+篮: 菜篮 (vegetable basket)
- 摇+篮: 摇篮 (cradle; baby's bed)
- 篮+网: 篮网 (basketball net)
- 篮+板: 篮板 (backboard of basketball hoop)
- 投+篮: 投篮 (to shoot a basketball)
6. Cultural Background
The character "篮" has significant cultural roots in Chinese history, particularly in relation to traditional handicrafts and daily life.
For thousands of years, the Chinese have used bamboo baskets for various purposes such as carrying goods, storing food, and even as decorative items. These baskets were traditionally woven by hand and were an essential part of rural life in China.
The art of basket weaving, often referred to as "竹编" (zhúbiān), has been passed down through generations and is considered a valuable cultural heritage. Different regions of China developed their own unique styles and techniques of basket weaving, reflecting local materials and needs.
In modern times, while plastic containers have become more common, bamboo baskets are still valued for their natural beauty, durability, and environmental friendliness.
The character also has a strong association with basketball, which has become one of the most popular sports in China. The sport was introduced to China in the late 19th century and has grown exponentially in popularity, with Chinese players achieving international recognition.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 他每天下午都去操场打篮球。
Pinyin: Tā měitiān xiàwǔ dōu qù cāochǎng dǎ lánqiú.
English: He goes to the playground to play basketball every afternoon.
8. Memory Tips
The character "篮" (lán) consists of two parts:
- The radical "竹" (zhú, bamboo) on the top, which indicates that the meaning is related to bamboo or bamboo products
- The component "监" (jiān, to supervise; monitor) at the bottom, which provides the pronunciation
To remember the character, think of it as "a bamboo (竹) container that can be used for supervision or monitoring (监)".
Associate the character with common words like "篮球" (lánqiú, basketball) and visualize a basketball hoop and net, which helps connect the character's appearance to its meaning.
You can also imagine a traditional bamboo basket, which was commonly used in Chinese households for various purposes.
Break down the character into its components and practice writing it to reinforce your memory of its structure and stroke count.
Remember that the radical "竹" is always at the top, which helps with proper stroke order when writing the character.