脸盆

• Pinyin: liǎn pén
• Hanzi breakdown: 脸 = 月 (flesh) + 佥 (all), the face; 盆 = 分 (divide) + 皿 (vessel), a container

Meaning

Washbasin; face basin. A bowl-shaped container used for washing one's face.

A common household item in China, traditionally used for washing the face and hands. While modern bathrooms may have built-in sinks, portable washbasins remain common in many homes and dorms. Often plastic or enamel.

Examples

1. 奶奶每天早上用脸盆打水洗脸。 Grandma fills the washbasin with water to wash her face every morning.
2. 大学宿舍里每个人都有自己的脸盆和毛巾。 Everyone in the university dorm has their own washbasin and towel.
3. 这个塑料脸盆用了十年还没坏。 This plastic washbasin has been used for ten years and still hasn't broken.

Usage Guide

Context: household, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 把脸盆放好，别摔坏了。(Put the washbasin away properly so it doesn't break.)
• 脸盆里的水太烫了。(The water in the washbasin is too hot.)

Don't Say

• 我在脸盆里洗澡。(A 脸盆 is too small for bathing — use 浴缸 or 淋浴 for bathing contexts)

Origin & History

脸 (liǎn, face) + 盆 (pén, basin). A basin specifically for washing the face.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal