幡 (fān) - A long, narrow flag or banner & a streamer

幡Tone 1

fān ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

恩丰

幡 · fān

A long, narrow flag or banner;

a streamer;

a pennant;

often used in religious or ceremonial contexts.

A long, narrow flag or bannera streamera pennant

Usage highlights

Prayer flagLong bannerCommand flagBuddhist streamerFlagpoleCeremonial banner

Synonyms

  • 旗— flag, banner (general term)
  • 帜— banner, flag (more literary)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The temple displayed colorful prayer flags (经幡).
  • They hung a long banner (幡子) for the festival.
  • The general's command flag (帅幡) signaled the advance.
  • Buddhist monasteries often have streamers (幡幢) fluttering in the wind.

Collocations

  • Prayer flag(经幡)
  • Long banner(幡子)
  • Command flag(帅幡)
  • Buddhist streamer(幡幢)
  • Flagpole(幡竿)
  • Ceremonial banner(仪幡)

Idioms

  • The wind moves, the flag moves(风幡心动)
  • Banners and flags filling the sky(幡旗蔽空)
  • Changing one's flag and surrendering(幡然归顺)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in military contexts as command flags and in religious settings as prayer flags.
  • In Buddhism, prayer flags (经幡) are believed to carry blessings and prayers when blown by the wind.
  • The character appears in the famous Chan Buddhist story about whether the flag or the wind is moving.

FAQ