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狈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狈bèia legendary wolfx, 7 strokes, radical 犭, Hard
狈bèidistressedx, 7 strokes, radical 犭, Hard
狈bèiwretchedx, 7 strokes, radical 犭, Hard
bèi(bei4)bei T4
  1. 1a legendary wolf
  2. 2distressed
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March 24, 2026

狈(狽)bèi(bei4)

The character 狈 (bèi) refers to a state of distress or being in a difficult situation. It can be used to describe someone who is wretched or in a predicament, often evoking a sense of sympathy. Additionally, it is connected to a legendary wolf, symbolizing cunning and survival in challenging circumstances.

Strokes7Radical犭Frequency#3575DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, the image of a distressed wolf can symbolize both vulnerability and resilience, often appearing in fables and moral tales that teach lessons about perseverance through hardship.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wolf (the legendary aspect of 狈) caught in a thorny bush, looking distressed and wretched. The character combines the radical 猫 (animal) with 匕 (a knife), suggesting a fierce creature struggling with its environment, helping you remember both the sound and meaning.

Meanings of 狈

bèi(bei4)
1a legendary wolf
2distressed
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 狈

狈Simplified
狽Traditional
7Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狈

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Podcast: 狈

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AI Study Notes for 狈

Quick Contrast

窘 (jiǒng) - use 狈 (bèi) when emphasizing a state of distress with a sense of sympathy, while 窘 (jiǒng) focuses more on embarrassment or awkwardness in a difficult situation.

Usage Notes

This character is often used in literary or dramatic contexts to describe someone's plight. Be careful not to confuse 狈 with similar-sounding words; use it in formal writing or storytelling rather than casual conversation to maintain the appropriate tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 狈 is not listed in the HSK, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to emotions and states of being. Pay attention to how it can be paired with verbs like 'to be' (是) or adjectives to describe someone's condition.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 狈 with the character 恼 (nǎo), which means to be annoyed or troubled. Remember that 狈 specifically relates to being wretched or distressed, not just troubled.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狈

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Etymology of 狈

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

Phonosemantic compound. 犭 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 狽.

Memory Hint

dog

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)贝
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

狈 = 犭 + 贝. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 狈

IDS Structure⿰犭贝
狈Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
贝Bei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 狈?

How to say a legendary wolf in Chinese

“a legendary wolf” in Chinese is狈bèi

The character 狈 (bèi) refers to a state of distress or being in a difficult situation. It can be used to describe someone who is wretched or in a predicament, often evoking a sense of sympathy. Additionally, it is connected to a legendary wolf, symbolizing cunning and survival in challenging circumstances.

When to use 狈

This character is often used in literary or dramatic contexts to describe someone's plight. Be careful not to confuse 狈 with similar-sounding words; use it in formal writing or storytelling rather than casual conversation to maintain the appropriate tone.

狈 or something close to it

窘 (jiǒng) - use 狈 (bèi) when emphasizing a state of distress with a sense of sympathy, while 窘 (jiǒng) focuses more on embarrassment or awkwardness in a difficult situation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 狈 with the character 恼 (nǎo), which means to be annoyed or troubled. Remember that 狈 specifically relates to being wretched or distressed, not just troubled.

Write 狈

狈

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

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Grammar Patterns of 狈

狈 carries 3 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

?澍宸廴____?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

Example Sentences for 狈 (1)

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1
?澍宸廴狈?蛋彼幔0蛋氨酸和亮氨酸.

? ? shù chén yǐn? bèi ? dàn0 bǐ màn 0 dàn ān suān hé.

Cottonseed meal is deficient in lysine, methionine and leucine.

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Word Family of 狈

Words Containing This Character4
狼狈lángbèiin a difficult situation狼狽
狼狈为奸villains collude together (idiom); to work hand in glove with sb (to nefarious ends)狼狽為奸
狈bèidistressed狽
狼狈不堪battered and exhausted狼狽不堪
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 狈

What does 狼狈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狈

It's not commonly used in casual conversation, but it can describe someone in a difficult situation.

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