倍 (bèi) — (classifier) times, -fold (indicates multiplier after a number)
Definition
倍 (bèi) is the classifier for multipliers (三倍 = three times). Goes after a number; for pairs of things (shoes, hands) use 双.
classifier
times-fold (indicates multiplier after a number)
Easily confused
- 陪péilook-aliketo accompany, to keep (someone) company
- 被bèisound-alike(preposition) used to mark passive voice, placed before the doer (or directly before the verb if the doer is omitted)
- 赔péilook-aliketo compensate, to pay for damage or loss
- 背bèisound-aliketo memorize, to recite from memory
- 背bèisound-alike(noun) back (of the body)
- 备bèisound-aliketo prepare; to equip
Examples
- 倍。Zhè ge yuè shōu rù bǐ shàng ge yuè zēng jiā le yí bèi.This month's income doubled compared to last month.
- 倍。Tā de gōng zī shì wǒ de sān bèi.His salary is three times mine.
- 倍。Xīn chē de sù dù bǐ jiù chē kuài liǎng bèi.The new car goes twice as fast as the old car.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu倍bèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
倍 has 人 on the left and 咅 on the right; 人 points to a person, while 咅 gives the sound.
Grammar
Appears in
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