HSK 5, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 土, rank #12174, Hard
培
péi
to train (people)
HSK 5, unknown, 11 strokes, radical 土, rank #12174, Hard
péi(pei2) T2
1to cultivate
2to earth up
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March 24, 2026
培péi(pei2)
The verb 培 (péi) primarily means 'to cultivate' or 'to foster,' often in contexts related to farming, education, or personal development. It can refer to both literal actions like preparing soil for planting and figurative actions like nurturing talents or skills in people.
Strokes11Radical土Frequency#12174DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of cultivation is not just about farming; it extends to moral and personal growth, reflecting the value placed on education and self-improvement over generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (培) carefully placing soil (土) around a young plant (培) to help it grow strong. The pronunciation 'péi' sounds like 'pay,' as in paying attention to cultivating something valuable.
Meanings of 培
péi(pei2)
1to cultivate
2to earth up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 培
培Simplified
11Strokes
土Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#12174Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 培
Podcast: 培
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AI Study Notes for 培
Quick Contrast
培 (péi) vs 养 (yǎng) — use 培 when emphasizing cultivation or fostering skills, while 养 focuses more on nurturing or raising living beings.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (培) carefully placing soil (土) around a young plant (培) to help it grow strong. The pronunciation 'péi' sounds like 'pay,' as in paying attention to cultivating something valuable.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 培, as it can apply to both agriculture and personal development. It's often used in phrases like 培养 (péi yǎng, to nurture) and can be formal in educational settings. Ensure correct tones when using it in speech to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although not specifically listed in HSK, 培 can connect to related verbs like 教 (jiào, to teach) and 养 (yǎng, to raise), which might appear in HSK exams. Focus on its usage in compound verbs and phrases to enhance vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of cultivation is not just about farming; it extends to moral and personal growth, reflecting the value placed on education and self-improvement over generations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 培 with other similar characters like 培养 (péi yǎng) and use it incorrectly when they mean to say 'train' in a specific skill context. Remember, 培 alone means to cultivate, while 培养 specifically means to nurture or train.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 培
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Grammar Patterns of 培
培 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 6 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.
Businesses need to train their workers better, and spend more on R&D.
10
培养一种自信的积极心态会让人受益匪浅。
péi yǎng yī zhǒng zì xìn de jī jí xīn tài huì ràng rén shòu yì fěi qiǎn。
Cultivating a positive mental attitude towards yourself can reap tremendous benefits.
Cultural Notes for 培
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of cultivation is not just about farming; it extends to moral and personal growth, reflecting the value placed on education and self-improvement over generations.
Word Family of 培
Words Containing This Character14
培养péiyǎngto cultivate培養
培训péixùnto cultivate培訓
培育péiyùto train
培péito bank up with earth
培根bacon (loanword)
培训班péixùnbāntraining class培訓班
栽培zāipéito grow
戈培尔Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945), German Nazi leader and politician戈培爾
培养皿Petri dish培養皿
培植to cultivate
安培ampere (loanword)
培养基culture medium培養基
培养液culture fluid (in biological lab.)培養液
堪培拉Canberra, capital of Australia
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 培养 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 培
培 (péi) and 培养 (péiyǎng) both relate to cultivation, but 培 (péi) focuses more on the act of banking up or supporting growth, while 培养 (péiyǎng) specifically refers to the process of nurturing or raising someone or something, often in an educational context.
培 (péi) is often used in contexts involving cultivation or development, while 训练 (xùnliàn) specifically means 'to train' in a more structured or formal sense, like training for a sport or skill. Choose 培 for broader development and 训练 for specific training scenarios.
培 (péi) means 'to cultivate' or 'to train' in Chinese. It can refer to both literal cultivation, such as farming, and figurative cultivation, like training people or developing skills. The character carries a sense of nurturing and supporting growth.
You can use 培 (péi) in sentences like '我们需要培育新的人才' (Wǒmen xūyào péiyù xīn de réncái), which means 'We need to cultivate new talents.' This shows how the character applies to training and development in various contexts.
You can say 我们需要培育下一代的领导者 (We need to cultivate the next generation of leaders).
Yes, 培 can be used in both contexts, but is more common in formal discussions about education or development.
Common phrases include 培养 (péi yǎng, to nurture) and 培育 (péi yù, to cultivate).
