吾辈 (wú bèi) — (literary, formal) we, us, people of our kind

Definition

Literary, formal "we / us," used in writing or speeches to mean 'people like us' or to refer to one's own group. Far more formal than 我们 and rare in everyday speech.

pronoun
(literary, formal) weuspeople of our kind

Examples

  • 吾辈。
    wú bèi Dāng zì qiáng bù xī.
    We should strive to constantly strengthen ourselves.
  • 吾辈，。
    wú bèi Suī píng fán, yì yǒu qí zhì.
    Though we are ordinary, we too have our aspirations.
  • 吾辈。
    Cǐ nǎi wú bèi zhī zé rèn.
    This is our responsibility.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

吾wúour
辈bèigeneration

吾 (our) and 辈 (generation) combine to mean people of our generation, hence we.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
五
五wǔ吾wú
Same sound today

吾 is built from 口, a mouth, and 五, which gives its sound.

Open 吾 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輩; 辈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi輩bèi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輩 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 非, which gives the sound; this describes 輩, not the simplified 辈.

Open 辈 →

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