Meanings of 擺
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About 擺
Podcast: 擺
Podcast: 擺
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AI Study Notes for 擺
摆 (bǎi) vs 陈 (chén) — use 摆 when emphasizing the action of arranging or displaying, and 陈 for a more formal context of presenting or exhibiting.
Be cautious not to confuse 擺 (bǎi) with other similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings when discussing arrangements. Common collocations include 擺放 (bǎifàng, to place) and 擺設 (bǎishè, to set up/display).
Although 擺 is not part of the official HSK levels, its usage can be connected to Level 3 vocabulary related to daily activities and arrangements. Students should focus on context and collocations to better understand its practical applications.
Learners often confuse 擺 (bǎi) with the similar-sounding word 摆 (bǎi), which has the same pronunciation but can change meaning slightly depending on context. For example, saying '我擺了椅子' instead of '我擺了椅子' for 'I arranged the chair' is a common error, as both are correct but may be used in different contexts.
Pronunciation of 擺
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Etymology of 擺
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 罢 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擺.
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 擺
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 罢 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擺.
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half罷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayhand
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 擺
Identify the Components
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How to say to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing in Chinese
“to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing” in Chinese is擺
The character 擺 (bǎi) means 'to arrange' or 'to display' objects in a certain order or manner. It can also refer to the motion of swinging, as seen in the context of a pendulum. This character is commonly used when discussing organizing items or setting up displays in various contexts, such as exhibitions or presentations.
When to use 擺
Be cautious not to confuse 擺 (bǎi) with other similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings when discussing arrangements. Common collocations include 擺放 (bǎifàng, to place) and 擺設 (bǎishè, to set up/display).
擺 or something close to it
摆 (bǎi) vs 陈 (chén) — use 摆 when emphasizing the action of arranging or displaying, and 陈 for a more formal context of presenting or exhibiting.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 擺 (bǎi) with the similar-sounding word 摆 (bǎi), which has the same pronunciation but can change meaning slightly depending on context. For example, saying '我擺了椅子' instead of '我擺了椅子' for 'I arranged the chair' is a common error, as both are correct but may be used in different contexts.
Write 擺
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Word Family of 擺
Compound Meaning
What does 摆 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 擺
You can say '我擺好了桌子' (Wǒ bǎi hǎole zhuōzi), meaning 'I arranged the table.'
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