(piān) - piece & sheet

Tone 1

piān | 15 strokes | radical:

· piān

piece;

sheet;

book;

literary piece;

a measure word for essays, articles, or chapters of a book.

piecesheetbook

Usage highlights

articlechaptershort essaylong articlefirst chapterpoetry collection

Synonyms

  • chapter; section
  • section; paragraph
  • paragraph; segment

Antonyms

  • volume; book (as a whole, not a part)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I wrote a short essay (一篇短文).
  • This book has twenty chapters (二十篇).
  • He published a research paper (一篇研究论文).
  • Please read the first chapter (第一篇).

Collocations

  • article(文章篇)
  • chapter(篇章)
  • short essay(短篇)
  • long article(长篇)
  • first chapter(第一篇)
  • poetry collection(诗篇)

Idioms

  • A long and tedious speech(长篇大论)
  • Outstanding literary work(鸿篇巨制)
  • A short and pithy article(短小精悍的篇章)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to bamboo slips used for writing in ancient China.
  • Used as a classifier for written works, reflecting the importance of literature in Chinese culture.
  • Commonly appears in academic and literary contexts.

FAQ