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悖 (bèi) — contrary to; to go against; perverse

Definition

A bound morpheme meaning 'to go against' or 'contrary to' — nearly always embedded in set phrases like 悖论 (paradox) or 并行不悖 (not contradictory). It is formal and written.

bound form
contrary toto go againstperverse

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge shuō fǎ shì yí gè bèi lùn.
    This statement is a paradox.
  • 悖。
    Zhè liǎng jiàn shì bìng xíng bú bèi.
    These two things are not mutually exclusive.
  • 悖。
    Tā de xíng wéi bèi nì le chuán tǒng.
    His behavior went against tradition.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
孛
孛bèi悖⁰bèi
Same sound today

悖 pairs 忄, the side form of 心 meaning heart/mind, with 孛, which gives the sound bèi.

Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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