How to Write 爿 (pán) — Meaning “Pan (a radical meaning 'half a tree trunk' or 'shop').”

Imagine the character 爿 looks like a small shop with a counter and a shelf. The left vertical line is the wall, the two horizontal lines are the counter and a shelf, and the right vertical line is the door frame. This image helps you recall that 爿 means 'shop' when used in words like 一爿店.

Write 爿 with 4 strokes: first a left vertical stroke, then the top horizontal stroke, then the bottom horizontal stroke, and finally a right vertical stroke. A common mistake is making the two horizontal lines too long or uneven—they should be parallel and about the same length, fitting neatly between the vertical lines. Also, ensure the right vertical stroke is straight, not curved.

The most common expression is 一爿店 (yī pán diàn), meaning 'a shop' or 'a store.' It is used as a measure word, especially in Southern Chinese dialects, to refer to a small, independent shop. Another rare word is 爿片 (pán piàn), meaning 'splinter' or 'slice,' but it is very uncommon in modern speech.

In modern Chinese, 爿 is primarily used as a radical in characters like 将 (jiāng) and 壮 (zhuàng), and as a measure word for shops in some regional dialects, especially in places like Shanghai and Fujian. Culturally, 爿 recalls an older way of counting shops, giving a traditional, local flavor when used instead of the standard 个 (gè) or 家 (jiā).

Common words containing 爿 include: 一爿店 (yī pán diàn) — a shop; a store; 爿部 (pán bù) — The 'Pan' radical.; 爿片 (pán piàn) — Splinter; slice (rare usage)..