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璧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a jade annuluszg, 18 strokes, radical 玉, rank #34701, Very Hard
jade annulusunknown, 18 strokes, radical 玉, rank #34701, Very Hard
(bi4) T4
  1. 1a jade annulus
  2. 2jade annulus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(bi4)

The character 璧 (bì) refers specifically to a type of jade annulus, which is a circular, disc-shaped object traditionally made from jade. In historical contexts, it is often associated with rituals and symbolizes purity and nobility in Chinese culture. This object is not only a decorative piece but also holds significant cultural and historical importance.

Strokes18RadicalFrequency#34701DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the 璧 was not just an ornament but was used in ceremonial contexts, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. It is often mentioned in Confucian texts as a representation of moral integrity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'big' (bì sounds like 'big') round jade ring that glistens like a precious gem. You can picture a beautiful setting where this jade annulus is displayed on a pedestal, representing wealth and status in ancient China.

Meanings of 璧

(bi4)
1a jade annulus
2jade annulus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 璧

Simplified
18Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 璧

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AI Study Notes for 璧

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'big' (bì sounds like 'big') round jade ring that glistens like a precious gem. You can picture a beautiful setting where this jade annulus is displayed on a pedestal, representing wealth and status in ancient China.

Usage Notes

When using 璧, be aware that it is a more formal term, often found in literary or historical contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other jade-related terms, such as 玉 (yù, jade) or 珠 (zhū, pearl). Make sure to use the correct context when discussing jade artifacts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 璧 is not part of the HSK levels, it connects well to HSK 5 vocabulary related to culture and artifacts. Students should focus on its historical significance and how it fits into discussions about Chinese heritage.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, the 璧 was not just an ornament but was used in ceremonial contexts, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. It is often mentioned in Confucian texts as a representation of moral integrity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 璧 with similar characters like 玉 (yù) or 珠 (zhū), which refer to different types of jade and pearls respectively. Remember that 璧 specifically refers to a jade annulus and not just any jade object.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 璧

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Etymology of 璧

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 玉 represents the meaning and 辟 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

jade

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 璧?

Decomposition of 璧

IDS Structure⿱辟玉
Full Character
=
bi4
top
yu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 璧?

Write 璧

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 璧

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, the 璧 was not just an ornament but was used in ceremonial contexts, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth. It is often mentioned in Confucian texts as a representation of moral integrity.

Word Family of 璧

Words Containing This Character14
jade annulus
完璧归赵lit. to return the jade annulus to Zhao (idiom); fig. to return something intact to its rightful owner完璧歸趙
珠联璧合perfect pair珠聯璧合
中西合璧harmonious combination of Chinese and Western elements (idiom)
合璧to match harmoniously
璧山Bishan suburban county in Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan
灵璧Lingbi county in Suzhou 宿州[Sù​zhōu], Anhui靈璧
璧山县Bishan suburban county in Chongqing municipality, formerly in Sichuan璧山縣
灵璧县Lingbi county in Suzhou 宿州[Sù​zhōu], Anhui靈璧縣
怀璧其罪fig. A person's talent will arouse the envy of others.懷璧其罪
璧玉jade disk with a hole in the center
白璧无瑕impeccable moral integrity白璧無瑕
白璧微瑕a slight blemish
拱璧fig. a treasure
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 璧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 璧

A 璧 is a jade annulus, a circular disc made from jade, historically used in rituals and as a symbol of status.