吹拂 (chuī bì) — (of wind) to brush gently; to caress | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary verb for a breeze lightly passing over or against something — softer than 吹 ('to blow'), with no sense of force. Used in writing, rarely in everyday speech.

verb

(of wind) to brush gentlyto caress

Examples

吹拂，。
Chūn fēng chuī bì zhe tā de liǎn, gǎn jué hěn shū fu.
The spring breeze brushed her face, feeling very comfortable.
，吹拂。
Wēi fēng chuī guò, shù shàng de yè zi qīng qīng chuī bì.
A gentle wind passed, and the leaves on the tree swayed softly.
，吹拂。
Zhàn zài hǎi biān, hǎi fēng chuī bì zhe tóu fa.
Standing by the sea, the sea breeze ruffled (her) hair.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

吹 gives blowing, and 拂 gives brushing, so together they describe wind moving gently.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

口欠吹

口口kǒumouth
欠欠qiànblow

吹 pairs 口 (mouth) with 欠 (blow), giving the picture of air being blown from the mouth.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌弗拂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

弗

弗fú拂fú

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is a hand, matching actions like flicking or whisking, while 弗 gives the sound.

Appears in

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