悲壮 (bēi zhuàng) — solemn and stirring; tragic yet heroic

Definition

A blend of 悲 (sad, tragic) and 壮 (heroic, stirring) — used for sacrifices, battles, or stories that move you precisely because they are both sorrowful and noble.

adjective
solemn and stirringtragic yet heroic

Examples

  • 悲壮。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng shù le yí gè bēi zhuàng de gù shi.
    This movie tells a solemn and stirring story.
  • 悲壮。
    Liè shì men de xī shēng shí fēn bēi zhuàng.
    The martyrs' sacrifice was tragic and heroic.
  • 悲壮。
    Nà chǎng zhàn yì de chǎng miàn fēi cháng bēi zhuàng.
    The scene of that battle was extremely solemn and stirring.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

悲bēitragic
壮zhuàngheroic

悲 adds the sense of tragedy and 壮 adds heroic strength.

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
心心xīnheart; thought; emotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi悲bēi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

悲 pairs 非 as the sound part with 心, the heart/emotion part.

Open 悲 →

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 壯; 壮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
士士shì
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán壯zhuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壯 uses 士 to hint at the meaning and 爿 for the sound; the simplified 壮 is a later abbreviation.

Open 壮 →

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