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March 24, 2026
貝bèi(bei4)
The character 貝 (bèi) primarily means 'sea shell' and is often associated with money or currency in ancient China, as shells were used as a form of currency. In modern contexts, it often denotes money or wealth, especially in compound words.
Strokes7Radical貝Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, shells were not only used as currency but also featured in trade, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The use of 貝 in modern language reflects this historical significance.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shiny shell (貝) lying on the beach, glistening like coins in the sun. The 'b' sound in bèi can remind you of 'bounty' as in treasure, linking the shell to wealth.
Meanings of 貝
bèi(bei4)
1sea shell; money, currency
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 貝
貝Simplified
7Strokes
貝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 貝
Podcast: 貝
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AI Study Notes for 貝
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shiny shell (貝) lying on the beach, glistening like coins in the sun. The 'b' sound in bèi can remind you of 'bounty' as in treasure, linking the shell to wealth.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 貝 with similar characters. It's important to remember that while it refers to shells, its modern usage is more about money. In formal contexts, it may appear in financial discussions or historical texts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 貝 is not an HSK word, it appears in HSK Level 3 words like 费用 (fèiyòng – expense) and 赔偿 (péicháng – compensation). Focus on recognizing this character in various contexts related to money.
Cultural Note
In ancient China, shells were not only used as currency but also featured in trade, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The use of 貝 in modern language reflects this historical significance.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 貝 with similar characters like 買 (mǎi – to buy). Remember that 貝 relates to shells and money, while 買 is about purchasing. A common error is saying '我有一个貝' (I have a shell) instead of '我有钱' (I have money).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 貝
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Cultural Notes for 貝
🏮Cultural insight
In ancient China, shells were not only used as currency but also featured in trade, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The use of 貝 in modern language reflects this historical significance.
Word Family of 貝
Words Containing This Character20
宝贝bǎobèitreasure寶貝
贝bèicowrie貝
贝尔Bell (person name)貝爾
诺贝尔Nobel (Prize)諾貝爾
小贝"Becks", nickname of British footballer David Beckham (see 貝克漢姆|贝克汉姆[Bèikèhànmǔ])小貝
拷贝copy拷貝
贝克汉姆Beckenham or Beckham (name)貝克漢姆
贝壳bèikéshell貝殼
诺贝尔奖Nobel Prize諾貝爾獎
贝鲁特Beirut, capital of Lebanon貝魯特
贝克abbr. for 貝克勒爾|贝克勒尔[bèikèlè'ěr]貝克
贝多芬Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), German composer貝多芬
贝拉Beira, Mozambique貝拉
贝卢斯科尼Silvio Berlusconi (1936-), Italian media magnate and right-wing politician, prime minister of Italy 1994-1995, 2001-2006, 2008-2011貝盧斯科尼
坎贝尔Campbell (name)坎貝爾
贝尔格莱德Belgrade, capital of Serbia貝爾格萊德
贝斯bass (loanword)貝斯
贝类shellfish貝類
扇贝scallop (genus Pecten)扇貝
分贝decibel分貝
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 宝贝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貝
In modern Chinese, 貝 commonly refers to money or currency, while it originally meant 'sea shell'.
Yes, phrases like 费用 (fèiyòng – expense) and 赔偿 (péicháng – compensation) use this character.
