Definition
白 (bái) as an adjective means 'white', 'blank', or 'plain' — it is more versatile than 白色 (bái sè), which refers only to the color itself. As an adverb, it means 'in vain' or 'free of charge' in everyday speech; 白白 (bái bái) is a more emphatic version of 'in vain', and 无偿 (wú cháng) is the formal way to say 'free of charge'.
adjective
whiteblankplain
adverb
in vainfor nothingfree of charge
Easily confused
- 自zìlook-alike(preposition) from (indicating a starting point in space or time)
- 摆bǎisound-aliketo arrange, to set out, to display
- 百bǎilook-alikehundred
- 败bàisound-aliketo lose, to be defeated
- 掰bāisound-aliketo break off or break open (something) with both hands
Examples
- 。Chuāng wài yǒu yì duǒ bái yún.There is a white cloud outside the window.
- 白，。Tā bái děng le hěn jiǔ, dàn háishì méi chénggōng.He waited in vain for a long time, but still didn't succeed.
- ，。Zhèxiē yǐnliào shì bái sòng de, búyòng huā qián.These drinks are given away for free, no need to pay.
Grammar
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