How to Write 篮 (lán) — Meaning “basket”

Imagine a bamboo basket (竹) with a label that reads ‘LAN’ attached to it, reminding you of the pronunciation. Alternatively, picture a basketball (篮球) made of woven bamboo strips, connecting the shape to its common use.

Pay attention to the radical 竹: it has two strokes on the left and two on the right, with the left part slightly smaller. A common mistake is writing the bottom part 监 too wide or narrow; keep the left component 丨 slim and the right 皿 balanced with the roof above it.

While 篮 means ‘basket’ (a container), 箅 (bì) refers to a bamboo sieve or grate used for steaming, and 箍 (gū) means a hoop or band (like a barrel ring). Visually, 篮 uses 竹 plus 监, whereas 箅 has 竹 plus 畀, and 箍 has 竹 plus the phonetic 箍. Their functions and shapes are distinct.

篮 is very common in everyday words like 篮子 (lán zi, basket) and especially 篮球 (lán qiú, basketball), one of the most popular sports in China. Culturally, bamboo baskets (竹篮) are traditional tools for carrying produce, and the character appears in many household items.

Common words containing 篮 include: 篮球 (lán qiú) — basketball; 篮子 (lán zi) — basket; 菜篮 (cài lán) — vegetable basket.