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March 24, 2026
卑bēi(bei1)
The character 卑 (bēi) means low or inferior, often used to describe something that is base, humble, or despised. It can refer to social status, moral character, or physical position, and is commonly used in contexts discussing humility or derogatory descriptions.
Strokes8Radical十Frequency#12825DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humility is often valued, and using 卑 to describe oneself can reflect a traditional virtue. Phrases incorporating 卑 can be found in classical literature and philosophy, emphasizing moral self-awareness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small, low hill (卑) that people look down upon. The character's base (卑) has a 'person' (人) under a roof (非), suggesting a humble dwelling, reinforcing the idea of being lowly or inferior.
Meanings of 卑
bēi(bei1)
1low
2base
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 卑
卑Simplified
8Strokes
十Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#12825Frequency Rank
Podcast: 卑
Podcast: 卑
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AI Study Notes for 卑
Quick Contrast
卑 (bēi) vs 低 (dī) — use 卑 for moral or social inferiority, while 低 focuses on physical height or level.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small, low hill (卑) that people look down upon. The character's base (卑) has a 'person' (人) under a roof (非), suggesting a humble dwelling, reinforcing the idea of being lowly or inferior.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 卑 with similar-sounding words like 悲 (bēi, sad). It's also important to note that while 卑 can imply humility, it can carry a negative connotation when referring to someone's character. Common collocations include 卑鄙 (bēibǐ, despicable) and 卑微 (bēiwēi, humble).
HSK Study Tips
Though 卑 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to character traits and social status. Focus on using it in phrases to describe humility or negative traits, which helps reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humility is often valued, and using 卑 to describe oneself can reflect a traditional virtue. Phrases incorporating 卑 can be found in classical literature and philosophy, emphasizing moral self-awareness.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 卑 with other similar characters like 备 (bèi, prepare) due to similar pronunciation. Ensure you remember that 卑 relates to lowliness and humility, not preparation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 卑
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Grammar Patterns of 卑
卑 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这一罪行如此____鄙无耻，大家都不想声张出去。
The crime was so base that everyone wanted to hush it up.
The crime was so base that everyone wanted to hush it up.
2
我对谁都不会卑躬屈膝。
wǒ duì shuí dū bù huì bēi gōng qū xī。
I don't grovel to anybody.
3
会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击 呢 ?
huì shì shuí fā qǐ zhè mó bēi bǐ de gōng jī?
Who could have carried out such a vile attack?
4
它的疆域包括东阿尔卑斯山的一部分和多瑙河流域的一部分.
tā de jiāng yù bāo kuò dōng ā ěr bēi sī shān de yī bù fēn hé duō nǎo hé liú yù de yī bù fēn.
Its territory includes part of the eastern Alps as well as of the Danube basin.
5
该队伍的探险之旅远至奥地利的阿尔卑斯山。
gāi duì wǔ de tàn xiǎn zhī lǚ yuǎn zhì ào dì lì de ā ěr bēi sī shān。
The group has adventured as far as the Austrian alps.
6
我止住了他那种卑躬屈节的神气, 告诉他,我饶恕了他.
wǒ zhǐ zhù le tā nà zhǒng bēi gōng qū jié de shén qì, , gào sù, tā , wǒ ráo shù.
I abated his cringes, told him I forgave him.
7
虽然那个饭店的胖侦探长行为卑劣, 但他所犯的罪却要比他们的轻一些.
suī rán nà gè fàn diàn de pàng zhēn tàn cháng háng wéi bēi liè, , dàn tā suǒ fàn de zuì què yào bǐ tā mén de qīng yī.
Despicable as the fat restaurant detective was, his crime was less than theirs.
8
冬末时节是阿尔卑胜地的旅游旺季.
dōng mò shí jié shì ā ěr bēi shèng dì de lǚ yóu wàng jì.
Late winter is the main holiday season in the Aipine Resort.
9
于是热情的哑巴用拇指拨弄谦卑须眉的伞.
yú shì rè qíng de yǎ bā yòng mǔ zhǐ bō nòng qiān bēi xū méi de sǎn.
Thus the enthusiastic dumb man thumbed the humble man's umbrella.
Cultural Notes for 卑
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, humility is often valued, and using 卑 to describe oneself can reflect a traditional virtue. Phrases incorporating 卑 can be found in classical literature and philosophy, emphasizing moral self-awareness.
Word Family of 卑
Compounds39
牌pai2mahjong tile
啤pi2beer
脾pi2spleen
碑bei1a monument
婢bi4servant girl; maidservant
俾bi3so that, in order that; to cause
裨bi4to aid, to benefit, to help, to supplement
蜱pi2tick, mite
稗bai4darnels, weeds; small, insignificant
陴pi2parapet; city wall
埤pi2to add, to increase; to attach; fence, wall
庳bi4a low-built house
捭bai3to open up, to spread out
椑
猈
睥pi4to glare at; to look askance
萆bi4castor oil; the castor-oil plant
豍
郫pi2place name
錍
鞞
髀bi4buttocks, thigh; thigh bone
鹎bei1bulbul, songbird; Pycnonotidae
鼙pi2drum carried on horseback
崥
朇
渒
焷
琕
痺bi4numbness, paralysis
禆
箄
粺
綼
聛
諀
貏
顰pin2to frown; to knit the brows
鵯bei1bulbul, songbird; Pycnonotidae
Words Containing This Character20
卑鄙bēibǐbase
卑微petty and low
自卑zìbēiself-abased
卑bēilow
卑劣base
谦卑humble謙卑
卑贱lowly卑賤
鲜卑Xianbei or Xianbi, group of northern nomadic peoples鮮卑
不卑不亢neither servile nor overbearing (idiom)
阿尔卑斯Alps (mountain range)阿爾卑斯
尊卑social ranking
卑尔根Bergen卑爾根
卑下base
男尊女卑to regard men as superior to women (idiom)
卑躬屈膝to bow and bend the knee (idiom); fawning
卑怯abject
卑污foul
不亢不卑neither haughty nor humble
卑鄙龌龊sordid and contemptible (idiom); vile and repulsive (esp. character or action)卑鄙齷齪
卑躬屈节to bow and scrape卑躬屈節
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 牌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 卑
Common phrases include 卑鄙 (bēibǐ, despicable) and 卑微 (bēiwēi, humble), which enhance understanding of the word's nuances.
While 卑 primarily has negative connotations, it can be used positively in the context of humility or self-deprecation, depending on tone and context.
The correct pronunciation is 'bēi', with a high level tone.
