篇

• Pinyin: piān
• Hanzi breakdown: 篇 = 竹 (bamboo radical) + 扁 (flat, phonetic component)

Meaning

Measure word for articles, essays, or written works. Used to count pieces of writing.

The standard measure word for written compositions such as articles, essays, stories, reports, and papers. Also used in compounds like 篇幅 (length of a written piece) and 篇章 (chapter, section). Common in school contexts when discussing homework or reading assignments.

Examples

1. 老师让我们写一篇作文。 The teacher asked us to write an essay.
2. 我今天读了三篇文章。 I read three articles today.
3. 这篇课文不太难。 This text is not too difficult.

Usage Guide

Context: school, reading, writing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请写一篇日记。(Please write a diary entry.)
• 这篇文章写得很好。(This article is very well written.)

Don't Say

• 不要用篇来量书 (Don't use 篇 for whole books — use 本; 篇 is for individual articles, essays, or chapters within a larger work)

Origin & History

Originally written as 編, referring to bamboo strips bound together to form a book. The bamboo radical 竹 at the top reflects this origin of bundled writing materials.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal