彬
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: urbane; well-bred; cultivated
💡 Forest (林) with decorative bristles (彡): a cultivated gentleman.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
Excavating the character 彬, we find its radical 彡 (shān), meaning 'bristle' or 'decoration', originally depicting ornate patterns. Combined with 林 (lín, 'forest'), it evokes a refined person, like a well-groomed tree in a cultivated grove. In classical texts, 彬 describes cultured elegance—the polished demeanor of a gentleman. Modern usage retains this sense of urbane sophistication, often in formal praise.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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