磐

pán

石 + 般

Definitions

pán firm; stable; rock

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 般 represents the sound.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 般

About

磐 is a phono-semantic compound with 石 (stone) as the semantic radical and 般 as the phonetic component. It originally referred to a large, flat, immovable boulder or bedrock, distinguishing it from smaller stones. This inherent stability led to an extended metaphorical meaning, describing anything exceptionally firm, solid, or unshakable. The character is often used in political or social contexts to denote enduring alliances, robust foundations, or entrenched systems.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这块磐石非常坚固。

Zhè kuài pánshí fēicháng jiāngù.

This large rock is very solid.

山洞里有一块巨大的磐石。

Shāndòng lǐ yǒu yī kuài jùdà de pánshí.

There is a huge monolith in the cave.

他们的友谊像磐石一样牢固。

Tāmen de yǒuyì xiàng pánshí yīyàng láogù.

Their friendship is as solid as a rock.

这座桥建立在坚固的磐石之上。

Zhè zuò qiáo jiànlì zài jiāngù de pánshí zhī shàng.

This bridge is built on solid bedrock.

工人们正在移开那块沉重的磐石。

Gōngrénmen zhèngzài yíkāi nà kuài chénzhòng de pánshí.

The workers are moving away that heavy monolith.

由于磐石过于巨大，我们无法搬运它。

Yóuyú pánshí guòyú jùdà, wǒmen wúfǎ bānyùn tā.

Because the monolith is too huge, we cannot transport it.

地质学家研究了这块磐石的成分。

Dìzhì xuéjiā yánjiūle zhè kuài pánshí de chéngfèn.

Geologists studied the composition of this bedrock.

在经济的动荡中，这家公司始终坚如磐石。

Zài jīngjì de dòngdàng zhōng, zhè jiā gōngsī shǐzhōng jiān rú pánshí.

Amid economic turbulence, this company remains as solid as a rock.

Related Characters

Component: 石

Component: 般

磐