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March 24, 2026
妣bǐ(bi3)
The character 妣 (bǐ) refers specifically to one's deceased mother. It is a term often used in a respectful or formal context, especially in literature or traditional Chinese texts, to honor the memory of a mother who has passed away. This character is less commonly used in everyday speech but holds significant emotional weight in familial and cultural discussions.
Strokes7Radical女Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, honoring ancestors, including mothers who have passed away, is a deeply ingrained practice, often seen during festivals like Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day), where families pay respects to their deceased relatives.
Memory Tip
Imagine a mother (妣) with a flowing gown (the character's shape) that represents her nurturing presence, now transformed into a gentle spirit. The 'b' sound in 'bǐ' can be remembered as a soft whisper calling upon the memory of a beloved mother.
Meanings of 妣
bǐ(bi3)
1one's deceased mother
2deceased mother
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 妣
妣Simplified
7Strokes
女Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 妣
Podcast: 妣
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AI Study Notes for 妣
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a mother (妣) with a flowing gown (the character's shape) that represents her nurturing presence, now transformed into a gentle spirit. The 'b' sound in 'bǐ' can be remembered as a soft whisper calling upon the memory of a beloved mother.
Usage Notes
This character is mostly used in formal writing or when discussing ancestral reverence. A common mistake is to confuse it with terms for living mothers, such as 妈 (mā), which is more casual. Be mindful of using the correct tone and context when mentioning deceased family members.
HSK Study Tips
Although 妣 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can enrich your understanding of familial terms in Chinese culture. Students should focus on the emotional depth of terms related to family and ancestry, which often reflect respect and reverence.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, honoring ancestors, including mothers who have passed away, is a deeply ingrained practice, often seen during festivals like Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day), where families pay respects to their deceased relatives.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 妣 in casual contexts when discussing mothers, which is inappropriate. For instance, saying 妣 when talking about a living mother can lead to confusion; instead, use 妈 (mā) for this purpose.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 妣
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Cultural Notes for 妣
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, honoring ancestors, including mothers who have passed away, is a deeply ingrained practice, often seen during festivals like Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day), where families pay respects to their deceased relatives.
Word Family of 妣
Words Containing This Character2
妣bǐdeceased mother
先妣deceased mother
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 妣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 妣
No, 妣 is primarily found in formal contexts or literary works, not in everyday speech.
The character for deceased father is 父 (fù) combined with the radical indicating death, known as 亡 (wáng), which forms the term 父 (fù) when referring to a deceased father.
