臂 (bei) — arm (bound form, used in compounds)

Definition

臂 (bei) is a bound form meaning 'arm,' used only inside compounds like 手臂 (arm) or 臂力 (arm strength) — it never stands alone.

bound form

arm (bound form, used in compounds)

。
Tā de shǒu bei hěn cháng.
His arms are very long.
臂，。
Tā yòng lì yì huī shǒu bei, rēng chū le qiú.
He swung his arm and threw the ball.
。
Tā de bei lì hěn qiáng.
His arm strength is very strong.

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

肉肉ròumeat; flesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

辟

Same sound today

臂 includes 肉, meaning meat or flesh, and 辟, which gives the character its sound.

Appears in