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辟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kingv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
lawv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
monarchv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to enlistv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
>辟[pì]v, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to repelv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to dispelv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to avoidv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to refutev, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to repudiatev, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to open up (for development)v, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
law, rule; to open up, to developv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
kingv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
lawv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
monarchv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to enlistv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
>辟[pì]v, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to repelv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to dispelv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to avoidv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to refutev, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to repudiatev, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
to open up (for development)v, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
law, rule; to open up, to developv, 13 strokes, radical 辛, rank #22888, Hard
(bi4)
primary
T4
  1. 1law
  2. 2to enlist
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(闢)(bi4)

The character 辟 (bì) primarily means 'to dispel' or 'to repel,' often used in contexts involving the rejection or refutation of ideas. It can also mean 'to open up' and is associated with the establishment of laws or rules. This character is less commonly used in everyday speech, often appearing in formal or literary contexts.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#22888DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of law and governance is deeply rooted, with historical rulers often depicted as figures who would 'dispense' justice and order. The character 辟 reflects this authority and responsibility associated with leadership.

Memory Tip

Remember 辟 (bì) by envisioning a 'king' (associated with its meanings of monarch) 'dispelling' doubts with a strong hand. The left side of the character is a 'gate' (門), symbolizing opening, while the right side suggests action (辟) taken towards development or rejection.

Meanings of 辟

(bi4)
primary
1king
2law
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 辟

Simplified
Traditional
13Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22888Frequency Rank

Podcast: 辟

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AI Study Notes for 辟

Quick Contrast

辟 (bì) vs 驱 (qū) — use 辟 when emphasizing the act of dispelling or rejecting ideas, whereas 驱 focuses on driving away or expelling something.

Memory Mnemonic

Remember 辟 (bì) by envisioning a 'king' (associated with its meanings of monarch) 'dispelling' doubts with a strong hand. The left side of the character is a 'gate' (門), symbolizing opening, while the right side suggests action (辟) taken towards development or rejection.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 辟 with its variant pronunciation 逼 (pī), which has a different meaning ('to force'). It's important to use 辟 in formal contexts, such as legal or academic discussions, and to remember that it can also imply a proactive stance, not just a defensive one.

HSK Study Tips

While 辟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to related words like 开 (kāi, to open) and 规则 (guīzé, rules). Students should focus on recognizing its usage in more complex text and understanding its implications in law and governance.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of law and governance is deeply rooted, with historical rulers often depicted as figures who would 'dispense' justice and order. The character 辟 reflects this authority and responsibility associated with leadership.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly pronounce 辟 as pì instead of bì, which changes its meaning significantly. Additionally, some might use it interchangeably with other characters like 开 (kāi), which can lead to confusion about the specific context of 'opening' versus 'dispelling.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 辟

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Etymology of 辟

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Depicts punishing a kneeling person (卩) with a curved knife (䇂).

Memory Hint

A body 尸 decapitated 口 by a sword 辛 , representing the law

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 辟?

Decomposition of 辟

IDS Structure⿰⿸尸口辛
Full Character
=
shi1
enclosing
kou3
inner
Xin1
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 辟?

Write 辟

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

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Grammar Patterns of 辟

辟 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 12 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他承认道听途说会引发谣言和____谣。

He conceded that second-hand accounts are leading to rumour and counter-rumour.

Example Sentences for 辟 (5)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他承认道听途说会引发谣言和辟谣。

tā chéng rèn dào tīng tú shuō huì yǐn fā yáo yán hé bì yáo。

He conceded that second-hand accounts are leading to rumour and counter-rumour.
2
罗就偏见的本质讲了一番很精辟的话。

luó jiù piān jiàn de běn zhì jiǎng le yī fān hěn jīng bì de huà。

Rowe does a very clever riff on the nature of prejudice.
3
他为自己从荒地上开辟出的花园而感到自豪。

tā wéi zì jǐ cóng huāng dì shàng kāi bì chū de huā yuán ér gǎn dào zì háo。

He is proud of the garden he made from a wilderness.
4
那番精辟见解到底是什么意思呢?

nà fān jīng bì jiàn jiě dào dǐ shì shí mó yì sī ne?

And what is that pearl of wisdom supposed to mean?
5
这本书写得很好,插图生动形象,说明文字简练精辟。

zhè běn shū xiě dé hěn hǎo, , chā tú shēng dòng xíng, xiàng , shuō míng wén zì jiǎn liàn。

The book is well written, properly illustrated and excellently captioned.

Cultural Notes for 辟

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of law and governance is deeply rooted, with historical rulers often depicted as figures who would 'dispense' justice and order. The character 辟 reflects this authority and responsibility associated with leadership.

Word Family of 辟

Compounds37
bi4to avoid
bi4wall
bi4arm
pi3craving, addiction; habit, hobby; indigestion
pi4biased
pi1to hack
pi1thunderclap, crashing thunder
pi4to give an example
pi1onomatopoetic, the sound of something cracking
bi4a jade annulus
bai1thumb; to rip, to tear; to split, to analyze
pi3to beat the breast
bi4a favorite, a minion; to show favor; to enjoy the favor of
bo4tree
pi4bricks, glazed tiles
bi4evergreen shrub; Ligusticum
bi4pleat, fold, crease
bei4a flat iron cooking-plate for cakes
pi4open; to settle, to develop, to open up
鷿pi4a duck-like bird
pi4a kind of duck; Podiceps ruficolus
Words Containing This Character14
开辟kāipìto open up開闢
to dispel
精辟incisive精闢
开天辟地kāitiānpìdìto split heaven and earth apart (idiom); refers to the Pangu 盤古|盘古[Pán​gǔ] creation myth開天闢地
辟邪to ward off evil spirits
复辟restoration (of a past regime)復辟
辟谣to deny闢謠
独辟蹊径to blaze a new trail (idiom); to display originality獨辟蹊徑
另辟蹊径to find an alternative另闢蹊徑
鞭辟入里penetrated鞭闢入裡
大辟death sentence
透辟penetrating透闢
开辟者pioneer開闢者
警辟profound, thorough and moving警闢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 避 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 辟

While 辟 (bì) means to dispel or to open up, 逼 (pī) means to force or compel, highlighting the importance of pronunciation in conveying different meanings.