Meanings of 賽
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About 賽
Podcast: 賽
Podcast: 賽
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AI Study Notes for 賽
比賽 (bǐsài) - refers specifically to a 'competition' or 'match', while 賽 (sài) emphasizes the act of 'competing' itself.
Be mindful of the context in which you use 賽; it is often used in formal contexts like competitions and events. A common collocation is '比賽' (bǐsài), meaning 'competition' or 'match.' Additionally, ensure to pronounce it with the correct tone, as a mispronunciation can confuse the meaning.
Although 賽 is not in the official HSK list, it connects to HSK Level 3 words like '比' (bǐ, to compare) and '賽跑' (sàipǎo, running race). Focus on using it in sentences related to competition to reinforce understanding.
Learners often confuse 賽 with 赛 (sài), which is the simplified version used in Mainland China. Always use 賽 when writing in traditional Chinese contexts. For example, saying '賽跑比賽' instead of '比賽賽跑' can lead to confusion.
Pronunciation of 賽
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Etymology of 賽
Simplified form of 賽. Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 塞 represents the sound. 貝 (shell) depicts the prize for a competition - shells were used as currency in ancient China.
money
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 賽
Simplified form of 賽. Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 塞 represents the sound. 貝 (shell) depicts the prize for a competition - shells were used as currency in ancient China.
- 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half宀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymoney
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 賽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 賽
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How to say to compete, to contend; contest, race in Chinese
“to compete, to contend; contest, race” in Chinese is賽
The character 賽 (sài) means 'to compete' or 'to contend,' often used in the context of races or contests. It can refer to various competitive activities, from sports events to academic contests, highlighting the aspect of rivalry or challenge.
When to use 賽
Be mindful of the context in which you use 賽; it is often used in formal contexts like competitions and events. A common collocation is '比賽' (bǐsài), meaning 'competition' or 'match.' Additionally, ensure to pronounce it with the correct tone, as a mispronunciation can confuse the meaning.
賽 or something close to it
比賽 (bǐsài) - refers specifically to a 'competition' or 'match', while 賽 (sài) emphasizes the act of 'competing' itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 賽 with 赛 (sài), which is the simplified version used in Mainland China. Always use 賽 when writing in traditional Chinese contexts. For example, saying '賽跑比賽' instead of '比賽賽跑' can lead to confusion.
Write 賽
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Practice writing 賽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 賽
Compound Meaning
What does 比赛 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 賽
Common phrases include '比賽' (bǐsài, competition) and '賽車' (sàichē, car racing).
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