fēngshàn: 风扇 - Electric Fan, Fan

Keywords: fēngshàn, 风扇, Chinese fan, electric fan in Chinese, fengshan meaning, what is fengshan, Chinese word for fan, household appliances in Chinese

Summary: 风扇 (fēngshàn) is the essential Chinese word for an electric fan. A staple in homes, dorms, and offices across China, this term literally combines the characters for “wind” (风) and “fan” (扇). Understanding a practical word like 风扇 is key to discussing daily life, especially during China's hot and humid summers. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage.

Pinyin (with tone marks): fēng shàn

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 3

Concise Definition: An electric appliance with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation.

In a Nutshell: `风扇` is the common, everyday word for the machine you plug in to cool down. It's a very logical and transparent word; if you know the character for “wind” and the one for “fan,” you can easily guess what a “wind-fan” is. It's one of the first household appliance words a learner will encounter.

风 (fēng): This character means “wind.” It originally depicted a sail filled with wind, capturing the idea of moving air.

扇 (shàn): This character means “fan” as an object, and its components hint at its origin. It's composed of 户 (hù), meaning “door,” and 羽 (yǔ), meaning “feathers.” This paints a picture of a traditional fan made of feathers, perhaps kept near a doorway.

When combined, 风扇 (fēngshàn) literally means “wind-fan,” a perfect description of a machine that creates wind.

Before the widespread adoption of air conditioning (`空调`), the `风扇` was the undisputed king of summer comfort in China. It was, and in many households still is, an essential appliance for surviving the sweltering heat. The whirring sound of a `风扇` is an iconic auditory backdrop to a Chinese summer.

Comparison to Western Culture: While electric fans are common in the West, central air conditioning is far more prevalent in homes, especially in the United States. In China, the `风扇` represents a more accessible, energy-efficient, and ubiquitous solution to heat. It's not uncommon for a family to own multiple fans but only have air conditioning in the main bedroom. The fan symbolizes a practical, direct, and often communal approach to staying cool—families might gather in the one room with the strongest fan on a hot evening. It's a symbol of simple summer life.

`风扇` is a high-frequency word used in everyday conversation. You'll hear it in homes, stores, and offices.

Daily Conversation: People use it to make simple requests like “turn on the fan” (`开风扇 kāi fēngshàn`) or “turn it off” (`关风扇 guān fēngshàn`).

Fan vs. Air Conditioner: It's common to hear discussions comparing the two. Many people prefer a `风扇` because it's cheaper to run (`省电 shěngdiàn` - saves electricity) and the breeze feels more natural than the cold, dry air from an air conditioner (`空调 kōngtiáo`).

空调 (kōngtiáo) - Air conditioner. The modern, more powerful alternative to a `风扇`.

扇子 (shànzi) - Hand-held fan. The traditional, manual predecessor.

电风扇 (diànfēngshàn) - Electric fan. A more formal and explicit name for `风扇`. `电 (diàn)` means “electric.” `风扇` is the common shortened form.

风 (fēng) - Wind. The first character and the element the fan produces.

凉快 (liángkuai) - Cool and pleasant. The feeling everyone wants from their `风扇`.

热 (rè) - Hot. The reason you need a `风扇` in the first place.

电器 (diànqì) - Electrical appliance. The general category that `风扇` belongs to.

吊扇 (diàoshàn) - Ceiling fan. A specific type of fan.

打开 (dǎkāi) - To open, to turn on. The verb used for starting a `风扇`.

关掉 (guāndiào) - To turn off. The verb used for stopping a `风扇`.