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拜 (bài) — to bow, to pay respects; to make a formal visit (for greetings); to formally acknowledge someone as master or teacher (e.g., 拜师)

Definition

拜 is a bound form used mainly in formal/traditional contexts: bowing, paying respects, or acknowledging a master. It is more formal and literary than colloquial verbs like 拜访 or 问候, and almost always appears in compounds (拜年, 拜师, 拜访).

bound form
to bowto pay respectsto make a formal visit (for greetings)to formally acknowledge someone as master or teacher (e.g., 拜师)

Examples

  • 拜。
    Tā xiàng fó xiàng bài le sān cì.
    He bowed to the Buddha statue three times.
  • ，。
    Chūn jié shí, wǒ men dōu qù gěi zhǎng bèi bài nián.
    During Spring Festival, we all go to pay New Year's visits to our elders.
  • 拜。
    Tā zhèng shì bài nà wèi huà jiā wèi shī.
    He formally acknowledged that painter as his teacher.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

拜 combines 扌 (hand, written fully as 手) with 𠦪 (herbs), showing a hand holding herbs as a gift.

Appears in
Greetings & Politeness3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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