庇 (bì) — (bound form) to shelter, protect, shield (used in compounds)
Definition
庇 is a bound form used only inside set compounds like 庇护, 包庇, 庇佑 — it never stands alone. Sense varies by compound: 庇护 = shelter, 包庇 = harbor (a criminal), 庇佑 = bless/protect (often spiritual).
bound form
to shelterprotectshield (used in compounds)
Easily confused
- 屁pìlook-alike(vulgar, noun) fart, flatulence
- 闭bìsound-aliketo close, to shut
- 底dǐlook-alikebottom, base, sole (of a container, shoe, or structure)
- 必bìsound-alikecertainly; must; necessarily; will (expressing necessity or certainty)
- 毙bìsound-aliketo die (violently, especially by shooting or execution)
- 避bìsound-aliketo avoid; to evade; to keep away from; to shun
Examples
- 。Zhè ge guó jiā wèi zhàn zhēng zhōng de nàn mín tí gōng bì hù.This country provides shelter for refugees from war.
- 。Tā de xíng wéi bèi rèn wéi shì bāo bì zuì fàn.His actions were considered covering up for a criminal.
- 。Dāng dì rén xiāng xìn zhè zuò shān néng bì yòu tā men.The locals believe this mountain can protect them.
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.
庇 shows 广, a house built to depend on a cliff, alongside 比, which gives its sound.
Appears in
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