扁

• Pinyin: biǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 扁 = 户 (door) + 册 (book/册), depicting something flat

Meaning

Flat; flattened. Describes something that is compressed or lacking in height or thickness.

Used to describe objects that are flat in shape, or things that have been squashed or deflated. Common in everyday descriptions of food, objects, and physical characteristics. Also used figuratively to describe something that has lost its fullness or vigor.

Examples

1. 自行车轮胎扁了，得去打气。 The bicycle tire is flat — I need to pump it up.
2. 这种扁豆炒肉丝特别好吃。 This flat bean stir-fried with shredded pork is especially delicious.
3. 他被批评了一顿，回来的时候脸色都扁了。 He got a good scolding, and his expression looked deflated when he came back.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 这个盒子太扁了，放不下书。(This box is too flat to fit books.)
• 篮球扁了，需要充气。(The basketball is deflated and needs air.)

Don't Say

• 不要用'扁'形容人很瘦 (Don't use 扁 to describe a thin person — use 瘦 instead; 扁 implies flattened, not slim)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character with 户 (door) as semantic component and 扁 itself as phonetic, depicting something thin and flat.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal