菲 (fēi) — (bound form) poor; inadequate; meager
Definition
Bound literary form meaning 'thin, meager, humble' (as in 菲薄 'meager' or the humble phrase 菲酌). Used in set phrases to sound modest or formal, not as a standalone word.
bound form
poorinadequatemeager
Examples
- 菲。Tā shōu dào le yí fèn fēi bó de lǐ wù.She received a meager gift.
- 。Zhè xiē gǔ dǒng jià gé bù fēi.These antiques are at a considerable price (far from cheap).
- 菲，。fēi Zhuó bù chéng jìng yì, qǐng màn yòng.This humble meal is not worthy of respect; please eat slowly.
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.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
菲 puts 艹, showing a plant, together with 非, which gives its sound.
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