扇子

• Pinyin: shàn zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 扇 = 户 (door) + 羽 (feather); 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

Fan; hand-held fan for creating a breeze.

A traditional tool for creating airflow, ranging from simple folding fans to ornate decorative pieces. Chinese fans have cultural significance in art, dance, and as gifts. Types include 折扇 (folding fan), 蒲扇 (palm-leaf fan), and 团扇 (round fan).

Examples

1. 奶奶送给我一把精美的丝绸扇子，上面画着山水画。 Grandma gave me an exquisite silk fan with a landscape painting on it.
2. 夏天的时候，老人们喜欢在树下摇着扇子聊天。 In summer, the elderly like to chat under the trees while waving their fans.
3. 这把折扇是明朝的古董，价值连城。 This folding fan is a Ming Dynasty antique — it's priceless.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, traditional culture, art

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这把扇子是手工做的。(This fan is handmade.)
• 他收藏了很多古董扇子。(He collects many antique fans.)

Don't Say

• 打开扇子机 — for electric fans, use 电风扇 or 风扇, not 扇子

Origin & History

扇 (fan) + 子 (suffix for objects), where 扇 contains 户 (door) and 羽 (feather), evoking wing-like motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal