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办法 (bàn fǎ) — method, way (of doing something)

Definition

办法 is an everyday 'way' or 'method' for solving a problem. It's more colloquial than 方法 and pairs naturally with 想/找 ('find a way').

noun
methodway (of doing something)
Measure word · 条, 个

Examples

  • 办法。
    Wǒ zuì hòu zhǎo dào le yí gè bàn fǎ.
    I finally found a way.
  • 办法。
    Nǐ shì yí xià zhè tiáo bàn fǎ.
    Try this method.
  • 办法。
    Zhè ge bàn fǎ hěn jiǎn dān.
    This method is very simple.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

办bànhandle
法fǎmethod

The first part means handle, and the second means method; together they describe a way of doing something.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 辦; 办 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
辡
辡biàn辦bàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 辦 combines 力 (strength) with 辡, which gives the sound; the simplified 办 is a later shorthand.

Open 办 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsAbstract Concepts2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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