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媲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to marry off; to compare, to match, to pair upv, 13 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
to pairunknown, 13 strokes, radical 女, Very Hard
(pi4) T4
  1. 1to marry off; to compare, to match, to pair up
  2. 2to pair
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(pi4)

The character 媲 (pì) refers primarily to the act of matching or comparing, often used in contexts involving pairing or marrying off individuals. It is commonly associated with finding suitable matches in relationships, but can also apply to comparing items or qualities in various contexts.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, arranged marriages were common, and the concept of matching individuals is deeply rooted in social customs. The idea of 媲 reflects the importance placed on suitable pairings in relationships, often involving family considerations.

Memory Tip

Imagine two people standing side by side, perfectly matched, like pairs of shoes. The left character 女 (nǚ) represents 'woman,' and the right character 比 (bǐ) means 'to compare.' Together, they create the idea of pairing or matching, which sounds like 'pì.'

Meanings of 媲

(pi4)
1to marry off; to compare, to match, to pair up
2to pair
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 媲

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 媲

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AI Study Notes for 媲

Quick Contrast

匹 (pǐ) - use 媲 (pì) when emphasizing a comparison or match in relationships, while 匹 (pǐ) is more about pairing or matching items in a general sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine two people standing side by side, perfectly matched, like pairs of shoes. The left character 女 (nǚ) represents 'woman,' and the right character 比 (bǐ) means 'to compare.' Together, they create the idea of pairing or matching, which sounds like 'pì.'

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 媲, as it can have formal connotations when referring to relationships. Common collocations include 媲美 (pìměi), meaning 'to compare favorably with' or 'to match in beauty.' Remember to use the correct tone to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 媲 is not in the current HSK levels, it connects with other words related to comparison and relationships. Students may benefit from learning it alongside 比较 (bǐjiào), which means 'to compare,' to reinforce the concept of comparison in different contexts.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, arranged marriages were common, and the concept of matching individuals is deeply rooted in social customs. The idea of 媲 reflects the importance placed on suitable pairings in relationships, often involving family considerations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 媲 with 比 (bǐ) alone, which simply means 'to compare.' For example, saying 我们可以媲这两个 (Wǒmen kěyǐ pì zhè liǎng gè) instead of 我们可以比较这两个 (Wǒmen kěyǐ bǐjiào zhè liǎng gè) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 媲

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Etymology of 媲

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

woman

Semantic (meaning)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 媲?

Decomposition of 媲

IDS Structure⿰女?
Full Character
=
nü3
left
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 媲?

Write 媲

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 媲

媲 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

许多人预测1991年酿制的葡萄酒可以与1965年生产的佳酿相____美。

Many predict 1991 will rival the great vintage of

Example Sentences for 媲 (1)

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1
许多人预测1991年酿制的葡萄酒可以与1965年生产的佳酿相媲美。

xǔ duō rén yù cè1991 1991 nián niàng zhì de pú táo jiǔ kě yǐ1965 yǔ 1965 nián shēng chǎn de jiā niàng xiāng。

Many predict 1991 will rival the great vintage of

Cultural Notes for 媲

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, arranged marriages were common, and the concept of matching individuals is deeply rooted in social customs. The idea of 媲 reflects the importance placed on suitable pairings in relationships, often involving family considerations.

Word Family of 媲

Words Containing This Character2
媲美pìměito match
to match
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 媲美 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 媲

You can use 媲 when discussing matchmaking in relationships or when comparing items. It's often more formal.