Meanings of 婢
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About 婢
Podcast: 婢
Podcast: 婢
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AI Study Notes for 婢
女佣 (nǚyōng) - use 婢 (bì) for a more formal or historical context compared to the more modern and casual 女佣 (nǚyōng) for a female domestic worker.
Think of 婢 (bì) as a 'bee' (sounds like bì) buzzing around the house, dutifully serving its queen. The character 婢 has the radical 女 (nǚ), which means 'woman,' and can help you remember that it refers to a female servant.
This term is quite formal and is seldom used in modern conversational Mandarin. Be cautious as some may confuse it with similar terms for 'servant' or 'employee'. Collocations include phrases like '女婢' (nǚbì), meaning 'female servant'.
Since 婢 (bì) is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be beneficial for learners at HSK Level 5 and above who are exploring historical literature or formal contexts. Focus on recognizing its usage in classical texts and understanding its implications.
In ancient China, 婢 (bì) often represented not just a servant but a woman who had limited rights and was bound to serve her master, reflecting the historical social hierarchy.
Learners might confuse 婢 (bì) with other terms for 'servant' like 仆 (pú). For example, saying '我有一个仆' (wǒ yǒu yī gè pú) instead of '我有一个婢' (wǒ yǒu yī gè bì) when referring specifically to a female servant is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 婢
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Etymology of 婢
A humble 卑 woman 女; 卑 also provides the pronunciation
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 婢?
Decomposition of 婢
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 婢?
Write 婢
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Practice writing 婢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 婢
婢 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
辣黑耳的____女彼耳哈的儿子: 丹和纳斐塔里.
The sons of Bilhah ( Rachel's handmaid ) : Dan and Naphtali.
Example Sentences for 婢 (1)
Cultural Notes for 婢
In ancient China, 婢 (bì) often represented not just a servant but a woman who had limited rights and was bound to serve her master, reflecting the historical social hierarchy.
Word Family of 婢
Compound Meaning
What does 奴婢 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 婢
No, 婢 is considered quite formal and is rarely used in contemporary speech.