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March 24, 2026
彼bǐ(bi3)
The character 彼 (bǐ) refers to 'that' or 'those,' often used to point out something that is not close to the speaker. It can also imply 'the other' or 'another' when making comparisons or referring to alternative options in discussions.
Strokes8Radical彳Frequency#10349DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In classical Chinese literature, 彼 often appears in poetry to create a sense of distance or longing, reflecting the traditional value placed on the distinction between the speaker and the subject.
Memory Tip
Imagine two people standing apart; one points to the other and says '彼' (bǐ), meaning 'that one over there.' The character resembles a person (亻) indicating 'another person' combined with a symbol for distance (比), reinforcing the meaning of 'that' or 'those.'
Meanings of 彼
bǐ(bi3)
1that
2those
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 彼
彼Simplified
8Strokes
彳Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#10349Frequency Rank
Podcast: 彼
Podcast: 彼
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AI Study Notes for 彼
Quick Contrast
那 (nà) vs 彼 (bǐ): Use 彼 (bǐ) when emphasizing a comparison or alternative, while 那 (nà) is more commonly used for pointing out something specific.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two people standing apart; one points to the other and says '彼' (bǐ), meaning 'that one over there.' The character resembles a person (亻) indicating 'another person' combined with a symbol for distance (比), reinforcing the meaning of 'that' or 'those.'
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 彼 with 这 (zhè, 'this') when indicating proximity. 彼 is more formal and is often used in literary contexts, while 这 is more conversational. It's important to use the right context to avoid sounding overly formal when speaking casually.
HSK Study Tips
While 彼 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it often appears in literary texts. Students should familiarize themselves with its usage in comparative sentences to enhance their understanding of contrasting ideas.
Cultural Note
In classical Chinese literature, 彼 often appears in poetry to create a sense of distance or longing, reflecting the traditional value placed on the distinction between the speaker and the subject.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 彼 to refer to things that are nearby, which is incorrect. For example, saying '彼本书' (that book) when the book is in hand should be corrected to '这本书' (this book).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 彼
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Grammar Patterns of 彼
彼 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 4 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.
Peter Alliss says he would be honoured to be asked.
Cultural Notes for 彼
🏮Cultural insight
In classical Chinese literature, 彼 often appears in poetry to create a sense of distance or longing, reflecting the traditional value placed on the distinction between the speaker and the subject.
Word Family of 彼
Words Containing This Character16
彼此bǐcǐeach other
彼得Peter (name)
彼bǐthat
彼岸the other shore
此起彼伏cǐqǐbǐfúrepeating continuously
圣彼得堡Saint Petersburg (city in Russia)聖彼得堡
知己知彼know yourself, know your enemy (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[SūnzǐBīngfǎ])
顾此失彼lit. to attend to one thing and lose sight of another (idiom)顧此失彼
非此即彼either this or that
圣彼得Saint Peter聖彼得
彼此彼此both in the same boat
厚此薄彼to favour one and discriminate against the other
彼得潘Peter Pan, the novel character
彼拉多Pilate (Pontius Pilate in the Biblical passion story)
此起彼落repeating continuously
不分彼此to share everything
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 彼此 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 彼
The character 彼 (bǐ) can mean 'that,' 'those,' or 'another.' Additionally, it can imply a sense of distinction between two entities, similar to saying 'the other one.' Its usage can vary based on context, particularly in written language.
While 彼 (bǐ) is understood by Chinese speakers, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Instead, people often prefer more colloquial terms like '那个' (nà ge) for 'that.' However, it may appear in formal writing or literature.
彼 (bǐ) refers to 'that' or 'those' in Chinese. It can also mean 'another' or 'one another' in certain contexts. This character is often used in literary or formal language.
To use 彼 (bǐ) in a sentence, you can say '彼是我的朋友' which means 'That is my friend.' It’s important to note that 彼 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts, so in everyday conversation, you might use other terms like '那个' (nà ge).
Use 彼 when referring to things that are not close to you or are being compared to something else, while 这 is used for things that are near.
彼 is generally more formal and often found in written language or literature, whereas 这 is more common in everyday conversation.
