樊 (fán) - Fence, enclosure & cage

樊Tone 2

fán ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

恩丰

樊 · fán

Fence, enclosure;

cage;

surname Fan;

also refers to a type of defensive barrier or being constrained.

Fence, enclosurecagesurname Fan

Usage highlights

Cage, birdcageBarrier, fenceSurname FanBreak through encirclementFan KuaiFan Li

Synonyms

  • 笼— cage
  • 篱— fence, hedge
  • 栏— railing, fence

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bird was kept in a cage (樊笼).
  • He broke through the encirclement (突破重樊).
  • Fan is a common surname (樊姓).
  • The ancient city was protected by a wooden fence (樊篱).

Collocations

  • Cage, birdcage(樊笼)
  • Barrier, fence(樊篱)
  • Surname Fan(樊姓)
  • Break through encirclement(突破樊篱)
  • Fan Kuai (historical figure)(樊哙)
  • Fan Li (historical figure)(范蠡 - Note: different character but similar context)

Idioms

  • Like a bird escaping its cage(脱樊之鸟)
  • Break through the barriers(冲破樊篱)
  • Trapped in a cage(樊笼之困)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a fence or enclosure made of wood, used for confinement or protection.
  • The surname Fan (樊) has historical roots, with notable figures like Fan Kuai, a general from the Han dynasty.
  • In literature, '樊笼' (fán lóng) metaphorically represents worldly constraints or bondage, famously used in Tao Yuanming's poetry.

FAQ