编

編

biān

扁 + 纟

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

biān (verb) to arrange; to organize

biān (verb) to edit; to compile

biān (verb) to compose; to write

biān (verb) to weave; to plait

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 扁 represents the sound. Simplified form of 編.

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 扁

About

编 is the simplified form of 編, a phonosemantic compound with 纟 (the simplified silk radical) hinting at threads, textiles, and binding, while 扁 indicates the sound. The original meaning was the physical act of weaving threads or plaiting bamboo strips, ancient books were made by binding such slips together with string. This literal sense of binding then extended to the mental activities of compiling, editing, and organizing written works, as well as to fabricating stories.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他正在编故事。

Tā zhèngzài biān gùshì.

He is making up a story.

她是杂志的编辑。

Tā shì zázhì de biānjí.

She is the editor of a magazine.

他编写了一本书。

Tā biānxiě le yī běn shū.

He wrote a book.

我们需要编一个程序。

Wǒmen xūyào biān yī gè chéngxù.

We need to write a program.

他负责编录资料。

Tā fùzé biānlù zīliào.

He is responsible for compiling materials.

编故事需要想象力。

Biān gùshì xūyào xiǎngxiànglì.

Making up stories requires imagination.

她编的舞蹈很好看。

Tā biān de wǔdǎo hěn hǎokàn.

The dance she choreographed is very beautiful.

这部小说是根据真实事件编的。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō shì gēnjù zhēnshí shìjiàn biān de.

This novel is based on real events.

Related Characters

Component: 扁

Component: 纟

编