扮

• Pinyin: bàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 扮 = 扌(hand) + 分 (phonetic component)

Meaning

To play (a role); to dress up as; to disguise oneself.

Used for acting out roles in performances, dressing in costume, or pretending to be someone. Also appears in compounds like 打扮 (to dress up) and 装扮 (to costume/disguise).

Examples

1. 她在这部电影里扮演一位坚强的母亲。 She plays a strong mother in this movie.
2. 孩子们扮成各种卡通人物参加派对。 The children dressed up as various cartoon characters for the party.
3. 他扮作快递员混进了大楼。 He disguised himself as a courier and snuck into the building.

Usage Guide

Context: performance, costume

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 他扮的角色很出彩。(The role he played was brilliant.)
• 万圣节你打算扮成什么？(What are you dressing up as for Halloween?)

Don't Say

• 把真实身份说成'扮' (Don't use 扮 for someone's actual identity — it implies acting or disguise)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character: 扌(hand) + 分 (divide, phonetic). Acting or presenting a role.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal