(bǎn) — (noun) edition, version (of a book, software, etc.); (noun) page, section (of a newspaper or magazine); (classifier) for editions, versions, or pages/sections of a publication

Definition

版 (bǎn) is a noun AND a classifier for editions, versions, or pages of a publication — pair it with a numeral plus 这/那 book/document, not with 软件 (that's 版本).

noun
editionversion (of a book, software, etc.)pagesection (of a newspaper or magazine)
classifier
for editions, versions, or pages/sections of a publication
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Zhè běn shū de xīn bǎn bǐ jiù bǎn duō le hěn duō nèi róng.
    The new edition of this book has much more content than the old edition.
  • Jīn tiān bào zhǐ de tóu bǎn kān dēng le zhè tiáo zhòng yào xiāo xi.
    The front page of today's newspaper carries this important news.
  • Zhè běn xiǎo shuō yǐ jīng chū le dì sān bǎn.
    This novel has already come out in a third edition.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
fǎnbǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

版 is formed by 片 and 反, with 片 contributing the sense and 反 the sound.

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