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狽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狽bèia legendary wolf; distressed, wretchedx, 10 strokes, radical 犭
bèi(bei4)bei T4
  1. 1a legendary wolf; distressed, wretched
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March 24, 2026

狽bèi(bei4)

The character 狽 (bèi) refers to a legendary wolf, often associated with distress or wretchedness in a metaphorical sense. It is used in literary contexts to illustrate a sense of despair or unfortunate circumstances, reflecting deeper emotional states in stories or poetry.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese folklore, the wolf is often depicted as a cunning and powerful creature. The character 狽 evokes a sense of tragedy and misfortune, which can reflect cultural attitudes towards struggle and resilience in traditional stories.

Memory tip

Imagine a wolf (the radical 狼) howling in the moonlight, feeling wretched and lost in the wilderness. The character 狽 can be remembered by picturing this sad wolf, as both the shape of the character and its meaning evoke feelings of distress.

Meanings of 狽

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

By ear

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About 狽

狽Simplified
10Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狽

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Podcast: 狽

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AI study notes for 狽

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 狽 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. It is more frequently found in literary works rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the context when using it. Also, ensure you pronounce it with the correct fourth tone to convey its meaning accurately.

HSK Study Tips

While 狽 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your reading of classical literature. Focus on recognizing it in context and connecting it to other characters related to animals or emotions, which are common in HSK materials.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly confuse 狽 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 败 (bài), which means 'defeat' or 'failure'. To correct this, focus on the context and the emotional connotation associated with 狽.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狽

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Etymology of 狽

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

Origin

狽 = 犭 + 貝. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 狽

IDS Structure⿰犭貝
狽Full character
=
犭quan3
left
貝bei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 狽?

How to say a legendary wolf; distressed, wretched in Chinese

“a legendary wolf; distressed, wretched” in Chinese is狽bèi

The character 狽 (bèi) refers to a legendary wolf, often associated with distress or wretchedness in a metaphorical sense. It is used in literary contexts to illustrate a sense of despair or unfortunate circumstances, reflecting deeper emotional states in stories or poetry.

When to use 狽

Learners often confuse 狽 with similar characters due to its uncommon usage. It is more frequently found in literary works rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the context when using it. Also, ensure you pronounce it with the correct fourth tone to convey its meaning accurately.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly confuse 狽 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 败 (bài), which means 'defeat' or 'failure'. To correct this, focus on the context and the emotional connotation associated with 狽.

Write 狽

狽

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

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Word Family of 狽

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 4

Words with 狽

What does 狼狈 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 狽

In literature, you might encounter a phrase like '他感到如同狽一样的绝望', meaning 'He felt as wretched as a wolf'.

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