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比方 (bǐ fang) — to use an analogy; to illustrate with a metaphor

Definition

比方 (bǐfang) is the verb for illustrating or explaining with an analogy. Unlike 比如/例如/譬如, which introduce a concrete example, 比方 focuses on the act of using a comparison to make something clear.

verb
to use an analogyto illustrate with a metaphor

Examples

  • 比方。
    Tā yòng shǒu bǐ fang zhè ge xíng zhuàng.
    He used his hands to illustrate this shape.
  • 比方。
    Qǐng nǐ bǐ fang yí xià shén me shì xìng fú.
    Please use an analogy to explain what happiness is.
  • 比方。
    Lǎo shī yòng gù shi bǐ fang rén shēng de dào lǐ.
    The teacher used a story to analogize the principles of life.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

比bǐcompare
方fāngcompare

比 and 方 both mean compare or illustrate; together they mean to make an analogy or give an example.

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.

  • 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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Communication & Speech

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