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鼙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼙pídrum carried on horsebackx, 21 strokes, radical 鼓
pí(pi2)pi T2
  1. 1drum carried on horseback
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March 24, 2026

鼙pí(pi2)

The character 鼙 (pí) refers to a type of drum traditionally carried on horseback, often used in military contexts to signal commands or boost morale. It represents a specific cultural artifact associated with historical Chinese warfare and ceremonies, highlighting the importance of music in these settings.

Strokes21Radical鼓
Cultural note

In ancient China, the 鼙 played a crucial role in military history, as it was used in battle to communicate and coordinate troops. Understanding this character can provide insight into the significance of music and communication in Chinese military traditions.

Memory tip

Imagine a horse galloping through a battlefield, with a large drum (the 鼙) strapped to its side. The sound of the drum echoes, rallying the troops. The radical 鼠 (rat) can remind you of the sound 'pí' as it scurries, linking the image of sound with the character's meaning.

Meanings of 鼙

pí(pi2)
1drum carried on horseback
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 鼙

鼙Simplified
21Strokes
鼓Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 鼙

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AI study notes for 鼙

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for historical or cultural discussions. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with related terms for different types of drums, and be aware that it may sound formal or archaic in modern contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼙 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to the theme of musical instruments, which can help learners associate it with other related terms such as 鼓 (gǔ), meaning drum. Focus on pronunciation and the historical context to enrich your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼙 with other types of drums, like 鼓 (gǔ). Remember that 鼙 specifically refers to the horse-carried drum, while 鼓 is a more general term for drums.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼙

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Etymology of 鼙

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

drum

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

Origin

鼙 = 卑 + 鼓. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鼙

IDS Structure⿱鼓卑
鼙Full character
=
鼓gu3
top
卑bei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鼙?

How to say drum carried on horseback in Chinese

“drum carried on horseback” in Chinese is鼙pí

The character 鼙 (pí) refers to a type of drum traditionally carried on horseback, often used in military contexts to signal commands or boost morale. It represents a specific cultural artifact associated with historical Chinese warfare and ceremonies, highlighting the importance of music in these settings.

When to use 鼙

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for historical or cultural discussions. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with related terms for different types of drums, and be aware that it may sound formal or archaic in modern contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼙 with other types of drums, like 鼓 (gǔ). Remember that 鼙 specifically refers to the horse-carried drum, while 鼓 is a more general term for drums.

Write 鼙

鼙

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Word Family of 鼙

Words containing this character1
鼙pídrum carried on horseback

Frequently asked questions about 鼙

It is pronounced as 'pí', with a rising tone.

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