1. a Chinese abacus with beads on wires or rods used for calculation

Examples

• The merchant used a swanpan to quickly calculate the total cost.
• Students in the math class learned to add numbers on a swanpan.
• The antique swanpan had wooden beads arranged on metal rods.
• She could multiply large numbers faster with a swanpan than with a calculator.
• The swanpan is still used in some parts of Asia for teaching arithmetic.