绊 (bàn) is a Chinese character meaning “to trip”. It is written from 纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 半 (half), side by side, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “to trip; to stumble”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
纟 + 半
Left–right structure
Structure from: ids-derived (现代字形 ⿰纟半，笔画核验 3+5=8)
Memory aid
A thread (纟) pulled tight across the path at half (半) your height — your foot catches on it and you go down. Both parts really are in this character.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 绊倒bàn dǎoto trip someone up; to stumble and fall绊 = bàn
- 羁绊jī bànfetters; a tie that holds someone back绊 = bàn
Go deeper
All readings
to trip; to stumble
to trip; to stumble; to be caught on something; to hinder or tie down
被东西挡住或缠住脚而跌倒；也指牵制、束缚。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 绊倒bàn dǎoto trip someone up; to stumble and fall绊 = bàn
- 羁绊jī bànfetters; a tie that holds someone back绊 = bàn
Sound component
半 family exact
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 绊 mean?
绊 (bàn) means to trip; to stumble; to be caught on something; to hinder or tie down.
How do you pronounce 绊?
It is pronounced bàn.
What parts is 绊 made of?
纟 (silk; thread (left-side form)) and 半 (half), side by side. The recorded source is: ids-derived (现代字形 ⿰纟半，笔画核验 3+5=8). Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 绊 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 绊?
纟. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 绊?
Common ones are 绊倒 and 羁绊. The reading of 绊 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.