攀比 (pān bǐ) — to make invidious comparisons; to compete with others (materially or socially) in a negative way

Definition

攀比 means comparing oneself to others (in wealth, status, or appearance) in an unhealthy, competitive way. It carries a negative judgment — the focus is on pointless one-upmanship, not neutral comparison.

verb
to make invidious comparisonsto compete with others (materially or socially) in a negative way

Examples

  • 攀比，。
    Bú yào zǒng gēn bié rén pān bǐ, guò hǎo zì jǐ de shēng huó zuì zhòng yào.
    Don't always compare with others — living your own life well is what matters most.
  • 攀比。
    Zhè zhǒng pān bǐ fēng qì zài nián qīng rén zhōng hěn cháng jiàn.
    This culture of invidious comparison is very common among young people.
  • 攀比，。
    Tā cóng bù hé bié rén pān bǐ, suǒ yǐ huó dé hěn kuài lè.
    She never compares herself with others, so she lives very happily.

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.

攀pānreach up
比bǐcompare

攀 can mean to reach up or compare with others and 比 means to compare, so it means making unfavorable comparisons.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
樊
樊fán攀
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

攀 pairs 手 (hand) with 樊, which gives its sound.

Open 攀 →

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

  • 匕匕bǐ
  • 匕匕bǐ

比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.

Open 比 →

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