辫 (biàn) - Braid, plait, queue & to braid

辫Tone 4

biàn ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

辫 · biàn

Braid, plait, queue;

to braid;

also refers to something woven or intertwined.

Braid, plait, queueto braidalso refers to something woven or intertwined.

Usage highlights

Braided hairTo braidPigtailsQueueStraw braidBraid trim

Synonyms

  • 编— to weave, plait, braid
  • 结— to knot, tie (related action)

Antonyms

  • 散— to loosen, scatter, let down (hair)
  • 乱— messy, disordered (opposite of neatly braided)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She wore her hair in a long braid (长辫子).
  • The girl has two pigtails (两条辫子).
  • He knows how to braid rope (编辫子).
  • They are good at arguing (善于辩驳, note: homophone 辩).

Collocations

  • Braided hair(辫子)
  • To braid(编辫子)
  • Pigtails(小辫子)
  • Queue (historical hairstyle)(发辫)
  • Straw braid(草辫)
  • Braid trim(辫带)

Idioms

  • Grasping petty faults(揪辫子)
  • To seize on someone's mistake(抓小辫子)
  • To straighten out reasoning(梳辫子, metaphorical)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with the Manchu queue hairstyle mandated during the Qing dynasty.
  • The character's structure reflects its meaning of intertwining strands.
  • Metaphorically used to mean 'handle' or 'vulnerability' (e.g., 抓辫子).

FAQ