Definitions

pāng (particle) (onom.) bang

Etymology

Derived from (bīng), with one stroke removed. Symmetric with , so that (pīngpāng) resembles the back-and-forth motion of ping-pong.

About

The character "乓" emerged as a phonetic modification of the character "兵", deliberately altering its form to create a distinct graphic representation for an onomatopoeic sound, with the addition of a dot atop the structure serving to differentiate it and highlight its acoustic purpose. Etymologically, it draws from the pronunciation of "兵" but applies it solely to imitate the sharp noise of a hit or bounce, as seen in terms like "乒乓球". Structurally, while it mirrors the basic framework of "兵", the strategic placement of the dot establishes a visual identity tied to sound symbolism. Over time, its meaning has remained consistently specialized in this imitative function, without expanding beyond its original role as a phonetic symbol for impact-related sounds.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢打乒球。

Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ pīngpāngqiú.

I like playing table tennis.

他每天打乒球。

Tā měitiān dǎ pīngpāngqiú.

He plays table tennis every day.

球比赛开始了。

Pīngpāngqiú bǐsài kāishǐ le.

The table tennis match has started.

的一声关上了。

Mén pāng de yī shēng guānshàng le.

The door closed with a bang.

杯子掉在地上发出的声音。

Bēizi diào zài dìshàng fāchū pāng de shēngyīn.

The cup fell on the ground making a bang sound.

球拍和球都在桌子上。

Pīngpāngqiú pāi hé qiú dōu zài zhuōzi shàng.

The table tennis paddle and ball are both on the table.

当球击中桌面时发出的声响。

Dāng qiú jīzhōng zhuōmiàn shí fāchū pāng de shēngxiǎng.

When the ball hits the table surface, it makes a ping sound.

在安静的夜晚,突然传来的一声巨响。

Zài ānjìng de yèwǎn, tūrán chuánlái pāng de yī shēng jùxiǎng.

In the quiet night, suddenly there came a loud bang sound.