How to Write 扮 (bàn) — Meaning “to dress up as; to play the part of”

Imagine a person using their hands (扌) to put on a costume that divides (分) their identity into a different character. Think of "hand-dividing" your regular self to become someone else.

Write the radical 扌 first with a slanted vertical stroke and a small hook ending. The right part 分 starts with a curved top stroke (丿), then a V-shape (刀), and two dots in the lower section. Keep the left and right sides balanced, with the hand radical slightly narrower.

扮 (bàn) means to dress up or act as, using the hand radical with 分. 扑 (pū) means to rush at or pat, using the hand radical with 卜 (bǔ). The core difference is the right component: 分 vs 卜, which changes the meaning entirely from theatrical disguise to physical movement.

You often see 扮 in phrases like 打扮 (dǎbàn, to dress up) for getting ready for a party or date, and 扮演 (bànyǎn, to play a role) in acting or movies. It carries a playful or performative nuance, so it's used when someone intentionally changes their appearance or behavior for an event or performance.

Common words containing 扮 include: 打扮 (dǎ bàn) — to dress up; to deck out; 扮演 (bàn yǎn) — to play (a role); to act; 扮作 (bàn zuò) — to dress up as; to disguise oneself as.