编 (biān): to compile; to edit

Meanings

1 to compile; to edit
2 to compose; to write
3 to weave; to braid

Characters

编

biān

to compile; to weave; to write

Examples

这本书是谁编的？

Zhè běn shū shì shéi biān de?

Who compiled this book?

他编了一个故事。

Tā biān le yīge gùshi.

He made up a story.

奶奶会编竹篮子。

Nǎinai huì biān zhú lánzi.

Grandma knows how to weave bamboo baskets.

Tips

usage

编 has two distinct meanings in daily life: (1) to compile / edit (编辑 = editor), (2) to make up / fabricate (别编了！ = "Stop making things up!"). Context tells you which.

memory

The 纟 (silk) radical on the left relates to threads — weaving threads together, or weaving words into a text.

Components

radical

纟 sī

silk (radical)

Left silk radical — simplified form of 糸 used as a left-side component. Marks 编 as something to do with thread, weaving, or by extension stringing pieces together — which fits the modern senses to braid, to weave, and to compile/edit (string written pieces into order).

phonetic

扁 biǎn

flat; thin

Right 扁 supplies the sound — biǎn shifted to biān, only a tone difference. Same phonetic family includes 篇 (piān, an article/chapter), 偏 (piān, slanted), 骗 (piàn, to cheat). The shared rime is regular and easy to recall once you spot it.