贵 (guì) — expensive; (honorific prefix) your (polite form used before certain nouns); noble, precious
Definition
At HSK 1, 贵 means 'expensive' — its main everyday use. 昂贵 is a more formal, written equivalent meaning the same thing. The 'your (honorific)' sense is limited to a few set phrases like 贵姓.
adjective
expensive(honorific prefix) your (polite form used before certain nouns)nobleprecious
Easily confused
Examples
- 贵。Zhè ge píng guǒ hěn guì.This apple is expensive.
- 贵？Zhè ge shū hěn guì ma?Is this book expensive?
- ？Qǐng wèn nín guì xìng?May I ask your honorable surname?
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 貴; 贵 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèimoney cowrie
Sound part声符shēngfú
臾
臾yú貴guì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 貴 uses 貝, a money cowrie, for meaning and 臾 for sound. The simplified 贵 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the old parts.
Appears in
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