鞭 (biān) - Whip & to whip

鞭Tone 1

biān ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

鞭 · biān

Whip;

to whip;

a flexible weapon or tool for striking;

also refers to ancient weapons like iron whips.

Whipto whipa flexible weapon or tool for striking

Usage highlights

HorsewhipWhipFirecrackersSpur onIron whipBullwhip

Synonyms

  • 策— Whip; to spur on
  • 抽— To whip; to lash

Antonyms

  • 抚— To caress; to soothe
  • 奖— To reward; to praise

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He used a horsewhip (马鞭) to urge the horse forward.
  • The teacher cracked the pointer (教鞭) to get attention.
  • Firecrackers (鞭炮) are set off during celebrations.
  • The coach gave a pep talk (鞭策) to motivate the team.

Collocations

  • Horsewhip(马鞭)
  • Whip(鞭子)
  • Firecrackers(鞭炮)
  • Spur on(鞭策)
  • Iron whip(铁鞭)
  • Bullwhip(牛鞭)

Idioms

  • Spur someone to make progress(鞭策)
  • Whip a quick horse(鞭打快牛)
  • Beat a dead horse(鞭尸)
  • Whip long enough to reach(鞭长莫及)
  • Whip into the stable(鞭辟入里)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as both a tool for animal control and a weapon in ancient Chinese martial arts.
  • Firecrackers (鞭炮) are traditionally used in celebrations to ward off evil spirits.
  • The character appears in idioms about motivation and encouragement (鞭策).

FAQ