布匹 (bù pǐ) — cloth (sold in bolts or pieces); piece goods

Definition

noun

cloth (sold in bolts or pieces)piece goods

Measure word · 匹

布匹。
Zhè xiē bù pǐ shì zuó tiān dào de.
These cloth pieces arrived yesterday.
布匹。
Tā mǎi le hěn duō bù pǐ.
He bought a lot of cloth.
布匹。
Zhè jiā gōng chǎng shēng chǎn yōu zhì bù pǐ.
This factory produces high-quality cloth.

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

巾巾jīnkerchief

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

乙

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 匹 is often explained as 石 (rock) with 乙 giving the sound, but its original picture is uncertain.