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贝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
贝bèicowriezg, 4 strokes, radical 贝, rank #3553, Hard
贝bèishellfishzg, 4 strokes, radical 贝, rank #3553, Hard
贝bèicurrency (archaic)zg, 4 strokes, radical 贝, rank #3553, Hard
贝bèisea shell; money, currencyzg, 4 strokes, radical 贝, rank #3553, Hard
贝bèisurname Beizg, 4 strokes, radical 贝, rank #3553, Hard
bèi(Bei4) T4
  1. 1cowrie
  2. 2shellfish
Also a Chinese surname, Bei — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

贝(貝)bèi(Bei4)

The character 贝 (bèi) primarily refers to shellfish and cowrie shells, which were historically used as currency in ancient China. It also serves as a surname, 'Bei'. In modern contexts, it symbolizes wealth or money due to its association with currency.

Strokes4Radical贝Frequency#3553DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, cowrie shells were a primary form of currency used in trade, reflecting their significant role in the economy and culture of the time. The continued use of 贝 in modern terms for money highlights historical value.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shiny cowrie shell glistening on the beach. The shape of the shell resembles the character 贝, and you can remember its pronunciation 'bèi' as it sounds like 'bay', where you might find such shells washed up by the tides.

Meanings of 贝

bèi(Bei4)
1cowrie
2shellfish
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 贝

贝Simplified
貝Traditional
4Strokes
贝Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#3553Frequency Rank

Podcast: 贝

JasonAmy

Podcast: 贝

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 贝

Usage Notes

贝 (bèi) is often used in informal contexts related to money or wealth, but can also appear in formal discussions about economics. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; be mindful of tone as 'bèi' (fourth tone) can alter meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

While 贝 (bèi) is not currently in the HSK list, it connects to vocabulary related to money and economics. Students should focus on its usage in financial contexts and as part of compound words like '人民币' (rénmínbì, Chinese currency).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 贝 (bèi) with similar characters, leading to mispronunciation or incorrect usage. For example, saying 'bai' instead of 'bèi' can change the meaning entirely. Remember: 贝 is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 贝

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Etymology of 贝

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 貝. Pictograph of a cowrie shell. In ancient China such shells were used as currency.

Memory Hint

A sea shell, once used as currency

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 贝

Simplified form of 貝. Pictograph of a cowrie shell. In ancient China such shells were used as currency.

  1. 1The giveawayA sea shell, once used as currency
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 贝? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 贝?

Decomposition of 贝

IDS Structure⿵冂人
贝Full Character
=
冂jiong1
enclosing
人ren2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 贝?

How to say cowrie in Chinese

“cowrie” in Chinese is贝bèi

The character 贝 (bèi) primarily refers to shellfish and cowrie shells, which were historically used as currency in ancient China. It also serves as a surname, 'Bei'. In modern contexts, it symbolizes wealth or money due to its association with currency.

When to use 贝

贝 (bèi) is often used in informal contexts related to money or wealth, but can also appear in formal discussions about economics. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; be mindful of tone as 'bèi' (fourth tone) can alter meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 贝 (bèi) with similar characters, leading to mispronunciation or incorrect usage. For example, saying 'bai' instead of 'bèi' can change the meaning entirely. Remember: 贝 is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi).

Write 贝

贝

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 贝

贝 carries 5 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 4

Complete the Sentence

坎____尔公司的总裁退休后,麦戈文被选定为继任者。

When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.

Common Confusions with 贝

贝vs貝
bèi

Simplified form of the traditional character 貝

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "cowrie"?

or

Example Sentences for 贝 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
坎贝尔公司的总裁退休后,麦戈文被选定为继任者。

kǎn bèi ěr gōng sī de zǒng cái tuì xiū hòu, , mài gē wén bèi xuǎn dìng wéi jì rèn。

When the chairman of Campbell's retired, McGovern was named as his successor.
2
你可以和戴维·贝克汉姆的纸板模型合影。

nǐ kě yǐ hé dài wéi· · bèi kè hàn mǔ de zhǐ bǎn mó xíng hé。

You can have your picture taken with a cutout of David Beckham.
3
用贝壳来装点盒子、托盘、镜子甚至是花盆。

yòng bèi ké lái zhuāng diǎn hé zǐ、 、 tuō、 pán 、 jìng zǐ shèn zhì shì。

Use shells to decorate boxes, trays, mirrors or even pots.
4
这里是吉姆·菲什在贝尔格莱德发来的关于事件进展的报道。

zhè lǐ shì jí mǔ· · fēi shí zài bèi ěr gé lái dé fā lái de guān yú shì jiàn jìn zhǎn de bào。

With a report on these developments, here's Jim Fish in Belgrade.
5
这场比赛将由来自威尔士的德里克·贝文执法。

zhè cháng bǐ sài jiāng yóu lái zì wēi ěr shì de dé lǐ kè· · bèi wén zhí。

The match will be refereed by Derek Bevan from Wales.
6
这位长腿美女不是别人,正是咱们的娜奥米·坎贝尔。

zhè wèi cháng tuǐ měi nǚ bù shì bié rén, , zhèng shì zán mén de nà ào· mǐ · kǎn。

The leggy beauty was none other than our own Naomi Campbell.
7
贝内特发起了一场捍卫“道德价值”、反对腐朽堕落的“自由相对论”的战争。

bèi nèi tè fā qǐ le yī cháng hàn wèi“ “ dào dé jià”、 zhí ”、 fǎn duì fǔ xiǔ duò“ luò de “ zì yóu” xiāng duì lùn。

Bennett launched a crusade for "moral values" against decadent "liberal relativism."
8
伊莎贝尔把酒杯放在桌上他伸手可及的地方。

yī suō bèi ěr bǎ jiǔ bēi fàng zài zhuō shàng tā shēn shǒu kě jí de dì fāng。

Isabelle placed a wine cup on the table within his reach.
9
他在诺贝尔委员会列出的获奖候选者名单之列.

tā zài nuò bèi ěr wěi yuán huì liè chū de huò jiǎng hòu xuǎn zhě míng dān zhī liè.

He had been on the Nobel Prize committee's list of possibles.
10
娜奥米在失误面前表现得处乱不惊,给贝丝留下了深刻印象。

nà ào mǐ zài shī wù miàn qián biǎo xiàn dé chǔ luàn bù jīng, , gěi bèi sī liú xià le shēn kè yìn。

Beth was struck by how Naomi took the mistake in her stride.

Word Family of 贝

Compounds80
员yuan2person
赛sai4to compete
费Fei4surname Fei
责ze2duty
则ze2conjunction used to express contrast with a previous sentence or clause
负fu4to bear
资zi1resources
顺shun4to obey
败bai4to defeat
货huo4goods
质zhi4character
赌du3to bet
贵gui4expensive
财cai2money
赞zan4variant of 讚
赚zhuan4to earn
赏shang3to bestow (a reward)
贴tie1to stick
贺He4surname He
购gou4to buy
账zhang4account
贱jian4cheap, low, mean, worthless
婴ying1infant
赋fu4poetic essay
贩fan4to deal in
页ye4page
贾gu3merchant; to buy, to trade; surname
贼zei2thief
赔pei2to compensate for loss
赐ci4to give; to bestow a favor; to appoint
贫pin2poor
赎shu2ransom; to buy; to redeem
赠zeng4to give as a present
贷dai4to lend on interest
贪tan1to have a voracious desire for
贡Gong4surname Gong
贞zhen1virtuous, chaste, pure; loyal
贿hui4bribe
贤xian2worthy or virtuous person
贯guan4to pierce through
赂lu4bribe
贸mao4commerce
呗bai4final particle of an assertion
赃zang1booty, loot; stolen goods; to bribe
贬bian3to diminish
坝ba4dam
赡shan4rich, elegant; to support, to provide for
赘zhui4unnecessary, superfluous
赝yan4false, bogus; counterfeit; a sham
贮zhu4to store, to stockpile, to hoard
赁lin4to rent
狈bei4a legendary wolf
罂ying1long-necked bottle or jar
赊she1to buy and sell on credit
钡bei4barium
赅Gai1to include; to prepare for
贲Ben1to forge ahead; energetic; surname
贻yi2to hand down, to give to, to bequeath
赓geng1to continue a song
贰er4two (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)
唢suo3a flute-like musical instrument
赈zhen4to relieve, to aid; rich
屃xi4legendary hero; Herculean strength
贠
贳shi4to borrow; to pardon; loan
贶kuang4to bestow, to grant; surname
贽zhi4tribute; a gift given to a superior
赀zi1wealth, property; to estimate, to count
赆jin4farewell present
赇qiu2to bribe
赉lai4to bestow, to confer; surname
赍ji1gift, present; offering
赑bi4strong
赒zhou1to give to charity; to give alms
赕dan3fine, penalty
赗
赙fu4to contribute to funeral expenses
赟
椝
鬶
Words Containing This Character20
宝贝bǎobèitreasure寶貝
贝bèicowrie貝
贝尔Bell (person name)貝爾
诺贝尔Nobel (Prize)諾貝爾
小贝"Becks", nickname of British footballer David Beckham (see 貝克漢姆|贝克汉姆[Bèi​kè​hàn​mǔ])小貝
拷贝copy拷貝
贝克汉姆Beckenham or Beckham (name)貝克漢姆
贝壳bèikéshell貝殼
诺贝尔奖Nobel Prize諾貝爾獎
贝鲁特Beirut, capital of Lebanon貝魯特
贝克abbr. for 貝克勒爾|贝克勒尔[bèi​kè​lè​'ěr]貝克
贝多芬Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), German composer貝多芬
贝拉Beira, Mozambique貝拉
贝卢斯科尼Silvio Berlusconi (1936-), Italian media magnate and right-wing politician, prime minister of Italy 1994-1995, 2001-2006, 2008-2011貝盧斯科尼
坎贝尔Campbell (name)坎貝爾
贝尔格莱德Belgrade, capital of Serbia貝爾格萊德
贝斯bass (loanword)貝斯
贝类shellfish貝類
扇贝scallop (genus Pecten)扇貝
分贝decibel分貝
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 员 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 贝

In ancient China, 贝 (bèi) referred to cowrie shells, which were used as a form of currency. This practice highlights the importance of shellfish in trade and economy during that period. Cowrie shells were one of the earliest types of money used in various cultures.

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