避邪 (bì xié) — to ward off evil spirits; to protect against evil

Definition

To ward off or repel evil spirits, typically through talismans, charms, plants, or jade — a traditional folk practice rather than a literal 'avoidance'. Often paired with 驱邪, which focuses on actively driving evil out.

verb
to ward off evil spiritsto protect against evil
Easily confused

Examples

  • 避邪。
    Xǔ duō rén pèi dài yù shí lái bì xié.
    Many people wear jade to ward off evil spirits.
  • 避邪。
    Mén shàng tiē le bì xié de fú zhòu.
    A talisman to ward off evil was pasted on the door.
  • 避邪。
    Zhè zhǒng zhí wù bèi rèn wéi kě yǐ bì xié qū xié.
    This plant is believed to ward off evil and drive away malevolence.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

避bìavoid
邪xiéevil spirits

避 refers to avoiding and 邪 to evil spirits, so together they describe warding off evil.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk
Sound part声符shēngfú
辟
辟pì避bì
Same sound today

避 is built from 辶, a walking-related form, plus 辟, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 避 →

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
邑邑yìtown; city
Sound part声符shēngfú
牙
牙yá邪xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

邪 puts 牙 beside 邑 (town; city): 牙 gives the sound, and 邑 shows it was first used in a place name. It was later used for strange or evil meanings.

Open 邪 →

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