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跸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to clear the way; to make way for the emperorg, 13 strokes, radical 足, Very Hard
to clear streets when emperor toursunknown, 13 strokes, radical 足, Very Hard
(bi4) T4
  1. 1to clear the way; to make way for the emperor
  2. 2to clear streets when emperor tours
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March 24, 2026
(蹕)(bi4)

The character 跸 (bì) means to clear the way, particularly in the context of making way for an emperor or during an imperial procession. It is used to describe the act of removing obstacles or crowds to facilitate the passage of someone of high status, reflecting the hierarchical nature of traditional Chinese society.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the act of clearing the way was not just a matter of logistics but also a demonstration of respect and status, reflecting the emperor's supreme authority. This practice is evident in historical texts and rituals associated with imperial ceremonies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a royal procession where officials wave large flags to clear the path for the emperor. The character 跸 contains the radical 辶 (walking) which suggests movement, and it phonetically resembles 'bee,' buzzing around to create a clear path. Visualize bees flying in formation to clear a way through flowers.

Meanings of 跸

(bi4)
1to clear the way; to make way for the emperor
2to clear streets when emperor tours
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 跸

Simplified
Traditional
13Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 跸

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AI Study Notes for 跸

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a royal procession where officials wave large flags to clear the path for the emperor. The character 跸 contains the radical 辶 (walking) which suggests movement, and it phonetically resembles 'bee,' buzzing around to create a clear path. Visualize bees flying in formation to clear a way through flowers.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 跸 with similar-sounding words, as it specifically relates to imperial contexts. It is formal and rarely used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include '清道' (clear the way) and '御驾' (imperial carriage).

HSK Study Tips

While 跸 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with themes of traditional authority and respect seen in other HSK Level 5 words. Students should focus on understanding the nuances of formality in language and how words relate to cultural hierarchy.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, the act of clearing the way was not just a matter of logistics but also a demonstration of respect and status, reflecting the emperor's supreme authority. This practice is evident in historical texts and rituals associated with imperial ceremonies.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 跸 in casual contexts, thinking it applies to any situation requiring a path to be cleared. A correction would be to use simpler terms like '让路' (make way) in everyday conversations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 跸

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Etymology of 跸

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

foot

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 跸?

Decomposition of 跸

IDS Structure⿰足毕
Full Character
=
ju4
left
Bi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 跸?

Write 跸

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

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Cultural Notes for 跸

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, the act of clearing the way was not just a matter of logistics but also a demonstration of respect and status, reflecting the emperor's supreme authority. This practice is evident in historical texts and rituals associated with imperial ceremonies.

Word Family of 跸

Words Containing This Character1
to clear streets when emperor tours
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 跸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 跸

No, 跸 is mainly used in historical or literary contexts related to emperors and is not common in everyday conversation.