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萆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
萆bìcastor oil; the castor-oil plantx, 11 strokes, radical 艹
萆bìcastor seedunknown, 11 strokes, radical 艹
bì(bi4)bi T4
  1. 1castor oil; the castor-oil plant
  2. 2castor seed
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March 24, 2026

萆bì(bi4)

The character 萆 (bì) refers to the castor oil plant and its seeds, which are known for their oil production. It is most commonly used in botanical or agricultural contexts, particularly when discussing the cultivation and uses of castor oil in various industries.

Strokes11Radical艹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, castor oil has been used for its medicinal properties, highlighting the importance of plants in Chinese health practices. The use of castor oil in cooking and cosmetics is also prevalent in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, bushy plant with large leaves (the castor oil plant) growing in a field. The character 萆 looks like a plant with roots (the radical '艹' on top) and seeds (the '比' below). The pronunciation 'bì' can remind you of the sound 'beet'—think of beet plants growing alongside castor oil plants.

Meanings of 萆

bì(bi4)
1castor oil; the castor-oil plant
2castor seed
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 萆

萆Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 萆

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AI Study Notes for 萆

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 萆 with similar characters related to other plants or seeds. This character is more formal and specific, so it is rarely used in everyday conversation. Be mindful of tonal pronunciation, as 'bì' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 萆 is not part of standard HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to botany and agriculture, which can be useful for learners interested in these fields. Students should focus on recognizing plant-related radicals and expanding their vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 萆 with the character for '比' (bǐ), leading to mispronunciation or misunderstanding. Remember that 萆 specifically refers to the castor oil plant, while 比 relates to comparison.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 萆

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Etymology of 萆

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

plant

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

Origin

萆 = 艹 + 卑. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 萆

IDS Structure⿱艹卑
萆Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
卑bei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 萆?

How to say castor oil; the castor-oil plant in Chinese

“castor oil; the castor-oil plant” in Chinese is萆bì

The character 萆 (bì) refers to the castor oil plant and its seeds, which are known for their oil production. It is most commonly used in botanical or agricultural contexts, particularly when discussing the cultivation and uses of castor oil in various industries.

When to use 萆

Learners often confuse 萆 with similar characters related to other plants or seeds. This character is more formal and specific, so it is rarely used in everyday conversation. Be mindful of tonal pronunciation, as 'bì' is pronounced with a falling tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 萆 with the character for '比' (bǐ), leading to mispronunciation or misunderstanding. Remember that 萆 specifically refers to the castor oil plant, while 比 relates to comparison.

Write 萆

萆

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

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Word Family of 萆

Words Containing This Character1
萆bìcastor seed

Frequently Asked Questions about 萆

It means 'castor oil' or refers to the castor oil plant.

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