璧 (bì) — a round flat piece of jade with a hole in the center, used as a ritual object in ancient China
Definition
璧 (bì) is a round flat jade disc with a hole in the center, used in ancient China as a ritual object and symbol of integrity. Best known today from the chengyu 完璧归赵 ('return the jade intact to Zhao').
noun
a round flat piece of jade with a hole in the center, used as a ritual object in ancient China
Measure word · 块
Easily confused
- 壁bìlook-alikewall; cliff (bound form used in compounds)
- 闭bìsound-aliketo close, to shut
- 玺xǐlook-alikeimperial seal (used by Chinese emperors)
- 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
- 璧。Zhè kuài bì shì zhàn guó shí qī de wén wù.This jade disc is a cultural relic from the Warring States period.
- 。Wán bì guī zhào de gù shi zài zhōng guó jiā yù hù xiǎo.The story of 'returning the jade intact to Zhao' is well-known in China.
- 璧。Gǔ dài guì zú cháng yǐ bì zuò wéi xìn wù.Ancient nobles often used jade discs as tokens of trust.
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.
璧 contains 玉, showing it is a type of jade, and 辟, which gives the sound pì.
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