How to write 便 (biàn, “convenient”)
便, an HSK 1 character, is read biàn for “convenient” and “plain”, and also pián (“used in 便宜”). It is HSK 1 in the 2025 syllabus, down from level 2 in the 2021 standard. As a left-right character it splits into 亻 (“person”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 更 (“more”), strokes 3–9, written the left part first. On its own it is an HSK 5 word; it also forms 便宜 (“cheap”), 方便 (“convenient”) and 方便面 (“instant noodles”). Japanese reads it bin, “convenience”, as a JLPT N3 kanji.
- Pinyin
- biàn, pián
- Strokes
- 9
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 亻 (“person”)
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- top leftdown and left
- leftdownwards
- toprightwards
- topdownwards
- toprightwards → downwards
- centerrightwards
- centerrightwards
- topdownwards → down and left
- leftdown and right
Japanese and Chinese
The two models differ in shape, so our comparison does not claim an order; compare the numbered frames yourself (9 strokes in Japanese, 9 strokes in Chinese).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| biàn fourth tone | convenient; plain; informal; suitable; opportune | — | 方便 方便面 不便 便于 |
| pián second tone | used in 便宜 (piányi); used in 便便 (piánpián); used in 便嬛 (piánxuān) | — | 便宜 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 2
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 116 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 便
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 便 | biàn | plain; informal HSK 5 |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap; inexpensive HSK 1 |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient; suitable HSK 3 |
| 方便面 方便麵 | fāngbiànmiàn | instant noodles HSK 3 |
| 不便 | búbiàn | inconvenient; inappropriate HSK 4 |
| 便于 便於 | biànyú | easy to; convenient for HSK 4 |
| 随便 隨便 | suíbiàn | as one wishes; as one pleases HSK 4 |
| 顺便 順便 | shùnbiàn | conveniently; in passing HSK 4 |
| 便利 | biànlì | convenient; easy HSK 5 |
| 便利店 | biànlìdiàn | convenience store HSK 5 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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HSK 1, in list order: