蕃 (fān) - Luxuriant growth & flourishing

蕃Tone 1

fān ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

蕃 · fān

Luxuriant growth;

flourishing;

abundant;

foreign;

barbarian;

also used in transliteration.

Luxuriant growthflourishingabundant

Usage highlights

Luxuriant growthPropagationForeign tribeForeign merchantBarbarian chieftainTibetan

Synonyms

  • 繁— numerous, complicated
  • 茂— luxuriant, lush
  • 盛— flourishing, prosperous

Antonyms

  • 衰— decline, wane
  • 凋— wither, fade
  • 零— sparse, scattered

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The vegetation is lush and flourishing (蕃茂).
  • This plant propagates rapidly (蕃殖).
  • The Tang dynasty had many foreign tribes paying tribute (蕃部).
  • The city was a hub for foreign merchants (蕃商).

Collocations

  • Luxuriant growth(蕃茂)
  • Propagation(蕃殖)
  • Foreign tribe(蕃部)
  • Foreign merchant(蕃商)
  • Barbarian chieftain(蕃酋)
  • Tibetan(吐蕃)

Idioms

  • Flourishing descendants(蕃衍子孙)
  • Barbarian guests from all directions(四方蕃客)
  • Tibetan-Tang relations(蕃唐关系)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used to refer to foreign peoples and tribes, especially those on China's frontiers.
  • In ancient texts, often carries connotations of 'otherness' or barbarian status compared to Han Chinese civilization.
  • Appears in historical contexts like '吐蕃' (Tǔbō) referring to the Tibetan Empire.
  • Also used in botanical contexts to describe vigorous plant growth and propagation.

FAQ