派 pài faction
faction; clique; school; manner; to send; to dispatch
How to remember 派: 氵 water + 𠂢 side streams = faction. At the class meeting the kids split up like water running into side streams, each little faction shouting for a different school trip.
Component breakdown
派 = 氵 water + 𠂢 side streams
- 氵 water
- 𠂢 side streams
At the class meeting the kids split up like water running into side streams, each little faction shouting for a different school trip.
How it is used
- Works as both noun and verb: as a noun it's a faction, school, or clique - 学派 xuépài "school of thought," 保守派 bǎoshǒupài "conservative faction" - as a verb it means to dispatch or assign someone, as in 公司派我去上海 (Gōngsī pài wǒ qù Shànghǎi) - "The company is sending me to Shanghai."
- 派 also works as a set-phrase measure word for an overall mood or scene: 一派繁荣 yī pài fánróng "a scene of prosperity."
- 派出所 pàichūsuǒ (local police station) and 气派 qìpài (grand, impressive manner) are common fixed words worth knowing separately from the core meaning.
- 派遣 pàiqiǎn is the formal, written version of the "send/dispatch" sense, used for official or organizational assignments rather than casual errands.
Words with 派
Example sentences
- 她被邀请参加派对。 Tā bèi yāoqǐng cānjiā pàiduì.She was invited to a party.