HSK · Level 35
120 words
Chinese word
辫子
Pronunciation
Pinyinbiàn zi
Meaning
- nounbraid
Example
她的辫子很长。tā de biàn zi hěn cháng
Her braid is long.
More examples
她把辫子松开了，头发披在肩上。tā bǎ biàn zi sōng kāi le tóu fa pī zài jiān shàng
She loosened her braid, and her hair fell over her shoulders.
Core concept
Hair strands crossed and gathered into a finished woven lock, whether worn as one section or several.
Common phrases
编辫子biān biàn zi
braid one's hair
扎辫子zhā biàn zi
tie one's hair in a braid
松开辫子sōng kāi biàn zi
loosen a braid
Similar words
发辫fà biàn: A neatly gathered lock of hair formed by braiding it.
马尾辫má wěi biàn: A tail-shaped hairstyle gathered at the back, with the hair sometimes braided.
Definition in Chinese
用手把头发编成的发束或发型。yòng shóu bǎ tóu fā biān chéng de fā shù huò fà xíng
Word origin
The formation is transparent: 辫 (biàn, "to braid") identifies the interlacing action, and 子 (zi, "noun-forming suffix") turns it into the name of the resulting hairstyle.
Usage tips
- English speakers may first picture one braid, but this Chinese noun can refer to paired or multiple sections as well, with the surrounding description showing the number.
Other meanings
- pigtailnoun
Opposites
- 光头guāng tóubald headnoun
- 短发duǎn fàshort hairnoun
Related words
- 发辫fà biànhair braidnoun
- 麻花辫má huā biànbraided pigtailnoun