fan1芬
Jyutpingfan1
Yalefān
Definition
Fragrance or aroma; sweet-smelling.
colloquialdescriptionsnature
How it's used
芬 is primarily a literary morpheme used in compound words like 芬芳 rather than a standalone adjective in daily speech. While it can be used colloquially to describe a pleasant scent, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the word 香 for this purpose. Using it in casual conversation can sound slightly poetic or old-fashioned.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
fragrant
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 分, which is a very common character for dividing or minutes. Since they share the same pronunciation in many contexts, learners often mix them up in writing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
