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被俘 (bèi fú) — to be captured, to be taken prisoner

Definition

被 (bèi) here is the passive marker plus 俘 ('capture'), giving a formal/written verb meaning 'to be taken prisoner.' It pairs naturally with 在战斗中, 在袭击中, and is more literary than a plain 被抓.

verb
to be capturedto be taken prisoner

Examples

  • 被俘。
    Tā zài zhàn dòu zhōng bèi fú le.
    He was captured in battle.
  • 被俘，。
    Hěn duō shì bīng bèi fú le, bèi guān jìn jiān yù.
    Many soldiers were captured and sent to prison.
  • ，被俘。
    Zhè cì xí jī zhōng, méi yǒu shì bīng bèi fú.
    In this attack, no soldiers were taken prisoner.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

被bèiby another
俘fúcapture

“被俘” joins “被” (by another) with “俘” (capture), meaning someone is captured.

Characters in this word

Most 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
衣衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí被bèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

被 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Open 被 →

Most 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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
孚
孚fú俘fú
Same sound today

俘 combines 人 (person) with 孚, the earlier form for “to capture,” to show a captured person.

Open 俘 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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