摆 (bǎi) — to arrange, to set out, to display; to sway, to swing, to wave; to put on (airs), to show off, to flaunt
Definition
摆 is the simple verb behind the 摆放 and 摆动 compounds and covers both 'arrange/display' and 'sway/wave.' For 'show off,' 炫耀 is more literary than the colloquial 摆. Negate with 不摆, not 别摆 for habitual behavior.
verb
to arrangeto set outto displayto swayto swingto waveto put on (airs)to show offto flaunt
Easily confused
Examples
- 摆。Qǐng bǎ shū bǎi zài shū jià shàng.Please arrange the books on the bookshelf.
- 摆，。Tā xiàng wǒ bǎi le bǎi shǒu, biǎo shì zài jiàn.He waved his hand at me to say goodbye.
- 。Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài bié rén miàn qián bǎi kuò qi.He always likes to flaunt his wealth in front of others.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.
Appears in
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