板 bǎn — board; plank; plate; slab; boss
老师在黑板上写下了今天的作业。Lǎo shī zài hēi bǎn shàng xiě xià le jīn tiān de zuò yè.The teacher wrote today homework on the blackboard.
Common words: 黑板 (hēi bǎn)、老板 (lǎo bǎn)、地板 (dì bǎn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "plate"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "plate", including 板 (bǎn), 牌 (pái). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "plate" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 板 (bǎn), 牌 (pái) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span bǎn, pái — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 板 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 板 bǎnboard; plank; plate; slab; bossUseful words: 黑板, 老板
- 牌 páicards; game pieces; signboard; plate; tabletUseful words: 牌子, 金牌
Common words for these 2 "plate" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 板 (bǎn) — so "plate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "plate".
牌 pái — cards; game pieces; signboard; plate; tablet
路口立着一块指路牌。Lù kǒu lì zhe yí kuài zhǐ lù pái.A signpost stands at the intersection.
Common words: 牌子 (pái zi)、金牌 (jīn pái)、银牌 (yín pái)
All 2 characters
Open 板、牌 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.