编 (biān) — to weave, to plait (e.g., hair, baskets); to edit, to compile, to compose (e.g., a book, a textbook); to fabricate, to make up (e.g., a story, an excuse)
Definition
编 (biān) is a broad verb covering three clusters: physically weaving (braid a basket, like 编织), compiling/editing text (like 编辑 or 编写), and fabricating stories or excuses (like 编造 or 虚构).
verb
to weaveto plait (e.g., hair, baskets)to editto compileto compose (e.g., a book, a textbook)to fabricateto make up (e.g., a story, an excuse)
Examples
- 编。Tā zhèng zài biān yí gè lán zi.She is weaving a basket.
- 编。Zhè wèi lǎo shī biān le yì běn jiào cái.This teacher compiled a textbook.
- 编，。Bié biān jiè kǒu le, shuō shí huà ba.Don't make up excuses — tell the truth.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 編; 编 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
The traditional form 編 pairs 糸 (thread), for knitting a book together, with 扁 as the sound part; the simplified 编 is only a shorthand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.