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March 24, 2026
赔(賠)péi(pei2)
The character 赔 (péi) means to compensate or indemnify for a loss, typically in a financial context. It is used when someone is required to make up for damages or losses incurred by another party, often in legal or insurance situations. The nuance of this word also includes suffering a financial loss oneself.
Strokes12Radical贝Frequency#5084DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of compensation is often tied to maintaining harmony and face. When someone suffers a loss, providing compensation is seen as a way to restore balance and respect within social relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character 赔) holding a balance scale (the radical '犭' for the dog, representing loyalty or responsibility) while paying money (the '月' component, symbolizing wealth). This scene reminds you that to 'compensate' is to balance out a loss by giving something of value, hinting at both the pronunciation (péi) and the meaning of making up for something lost.
Meanings of 赔
péi(pei2)
1to compensate for loss
2to indemnify
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 赔
赔Simplified
賠Traditional
12Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5084Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 赔
Podcast: 赔
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AI Study Notes for 赔
Quick Contrast
赔 (péi) vs 补偿 (bǔcháng) — use 赔 when the focus is on compensating for a loss that one has incurred, while 补偿 emphasizes making up for a deficiency or shortfall, often in a broader sense.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 赔 with similar-sounding words like 佩 (pèi), which means to admire or to wear. The word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in legal discussions about compensation. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 赔 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it relates to legal and financial vocabulary which is important for higher-level learners to master. Students should focus on collocations such as 赔偿 (péi cháng, to compensate) and phrases used in contracts or insurance.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 赔 in contexts that do not involve loss, such as saying '我赔他' (wǒ péi tā - I compensate him) when they mean 'I pay him' in a different context. The correct phrasing would depend on the specific situation, such as using 给 (gěi - to give) for general payments.
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Pronunciation of 赔
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Learning Lab
Knowing 赔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
赔 = 贝 + 咅. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 赔
IDS Structure⿰贝咅
赔Full Character
=
贝Bei4
left
咅pou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 赔?
How to say to compensate for loss in Chinese
“to compensate for loss” in Chinese is赔péi
The character 赔 (péi) means to compensate or indemnify for a loss, typically in a financial context. It is used when someone is required to make up for damages or losses incurred by another party, often in legal or insurance situations. The nuance of this word also includes suffering a financial loss oneself.
When to use 赔
Common mistakes include confusing 赔 with similar-sounding words like 佩 (pèi), which means to admire or to wear. The word is generally used in formal contexts, especially in legal discussions about compensation. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
赔 or something close to it
赔 (péi) vs 补偿 (bǔcháng) — use 赔 when the focus is on compensating for a loss that one has incurred, while 补偿 emphasizes making up for a deficiency or shortfall, often in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 赔 in contexts that do not involve loss, such as saying '我赔他' (wǒ péi tā - I compensate him) when they mean 'I pay him' in a different context. The correct phrasing would depend on the specific situation, such as using 给 (gěi - to give) for general payments.
Write 赔
赔
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Grammar Patterns of 赔
赔 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 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
如果你得不到任何____偿，向园区所有者投诉。
If you can't get any satisfaction, complain to the park owner.
They intend to claim for damages against the three doctors.
6
查看一下你的保险单，看其是否对搬运过程中的破损和毁坏赔偿。
chá kàn yī xià nǐ de bǎo xiǎn dān， ， kàn qí shì fǒu duì bān yùn guò chéng zhōng de pò sǔn hé huǐ huài péi。
Check that your insurance policy covers breakages and damage during removals.
7
达德利先生已承诺将任何所获的损害赔偿额都捐给慈善机构。
dá dé lì xiān shēng yǐ chéng nuò jiāng rèn hé suǒ huò de sǔn hài péi cháng é dū juān gěi cí shàn jī gòu。
Mr Dudley has pledged to give any award to charity.
8
那笔钱甚至都不够赔偿破损费。
nà bǐ qián shèn zhì dū bù gòu péi cháng pò sǔn fèi。
Those figures might not even cover the cost of breakages.
9
这家报纸正和提起损害赔偿诉讼的女演员对簿公堂。
zhè jiā bào zhǐ zhèng hé tí qǐ sǔn hài péi cháng sù sòng de nǚ yǎn yuán duì bù gōng táng。
The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress.
10
谁来负责这笔损害赔偿金?
shuí lái fù zé zhè bǐ sǔn hài péi cháng jīn?
Who's going to foot the bill for the damage?
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Word Family of 赔
Words Containing This Character17
赔偿péichángto compensate賠償
赔péito indemnify賠
索赔suǒpéito claim damages索賠
赔偿金compensation賠償金
理赔to settle a claim理賠
赔钱péiqiánto lose money賠錢
赔付to pay out賠付
赔款reparations賠款
赔罪to apologize賠罪
赔本loss賠本
赔不是to apologize賠不是
赔礼to make amends賠禮
赔笑to smile apologetically or obsequiously賠笑
赔了夫人又折兵having given away a bride, to lose one's army on top of it (idiom)賠了夫人又折兵
包赔guarantee to pay compensations包賠
倒赔to sustain loss in trade倒賠
赔小心to be conciliatory or apologetic賠小心
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 赔
What does 赔偿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 赔
While both words mean to compensate, 赔 often implies a legal or formal context, while 补偿 (bǔ cháng) can refer to any kind of reimbursement or making up for a loss.
Yes, but it's more commonly used in formal contexts, such as legal discussions or business transactions.
The pronunciation is péi, with a rising tone. Practice saying it while imagining someone handing over money to compensate for a loss.
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