衣被 (yī bèi) — to cover (with blankets or clothing); to benefit; to do a favor

Definition

衣被 is a literary verb meaning 'to clothe/cover' in both literal and figurative senses (covering someone with a blanket, or figuratively benefiting people). Almost only seen in classical or formal writing; in modern speech use 给…盖上 or 造福 instead.

verb
to cover (with blankets or clothing)to benefitto do a favor

Examples

  • 衣被，。
    Tā yī bèi le hái zi, yǐ miǎn zháo liáng.
    He covered the child to prevent catching cold.
  • 衣被。
    Zhè xiàng shàn jǔ yī bèi le wú shù rén.
    This good deed benefited countless people.
  • 衣被，。
    Tā yī le wǒ yì chuáng yī bèi, wǒ fēi cháng gǎn jī.
    He covered me with a blanket; I am very grateful.

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.

衣yīclothe
被bèicover

衣 clothe and 被 cover combine to mean cover with clothing and blankets, hence help.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →

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
衣衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí被bèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

被 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Open 被 →

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