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March 24, 2026
鼻bí(bi2)
The character 鼻 (bí) refers to the 'nose,' a prominent feature on the face used for breathing and smelling. It is commonly used in medical contexts, discussions about health, and in descriptive language involving facial features. The character can also imply a sense of pride or arrogance when used in idiomatic expressions.
Strokes14Radical鼻Frequency#4857DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the nose is associated with health and beauty, and certain traditional practices may involve examinations of the nose to determine one's health. For example, the nose is often discussed in relation to facial aesthetics in beauty standards.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, 'bee' (bí) sitting on your nose. The bee's buzzing reminds you of the senses associated with the nose—smell and taste. The character 鼻 has a radical that resembles facial features, helping you visualize its meaning.
Meanings of 鼻
bí(bi2)
1nose
2nose; first
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 鼻 means.
About 鼻
鼻Simplified
14Strokes
鼻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4857Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鼻
Podcast: 鼻
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AI Study Notes for 鼻
Quick Contrast
嘴 (zuǐ, mouth) — use 鼻 when referring specifically to the nose, not the mouth.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鼻 (bí) with similar-sounding characters. In everyday conversation, it is often used in a straightforward manner, but in formal contexts, it's important to pair it with appropriate adjectives for clarity. Common collocations include 鼻子 (bízi - 'nose') and 鼻炎 (bíyán - 'rhinitis').
HSK Study Tips
Although 鼻 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with other body part vocabulary commonly taught in early stages. Focus on pronunciation and usage in sentences to reinforce learning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 鼻 by using the wrong tone, mistakenly saying 'nà' instead of 'bí.' Additionally, some may confuse it with the character for 'ear' (耳), leading to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鼻
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 自 represents the meaning and 畀 represents the sound. Originally written as 自, a pictograph of a nose. The sound component 畀 was added later.
鼻 = 自 + 畀. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鼻
IDS Structure⿱自畀
鼻Full Character
=
自zi4
top
畀bi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鼻?
How to say nose in Chinese
“nose” in Chinese is鼻bí
The character 鼻 (bí) refers to the 'nose,' a prominent feature on the face used for breathing and smelling. It is commonly used in medical contexts, discussions about health, and in descriptive language involving facial features. The character can also imply a sense of pride or arrogance when used in idiomatic expressions.
When to use 鼻
Be careful not to confuse 鼻 (bí) with similar-sounding characters. In everyday conversation, it is often used in a straightforward manner, but in formal contexts, it's important to pair it with appropriate adjectives for clarity. Common collocations include 鼻子 (bízi - 'nose') and 鼻炎 (bíyán - 'rhinitis').
鼻 or something close to it
嘴 (zuǐ, mouth) — use 鼻 when referring specifically to the nose, not the mouth.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 鼻 by using the wrong tone, mistakenly saying 'nà' instead of 'bí.' Additionally, some may confuse it with the character for 'ear' (耳), leading to misunderstandings.
Write 鼻
鼻
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Grammar Patterns of 鼻
鼻 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
每次我感冒都会流____血。
Whenever I have a cold I get a nosebleed.
Common Confusions with 鼻
鼻vs美
měi
Similar shape, but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “nose”?
or
Example Sentences for 鼻 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
每次我感冒都会流鼻血。
měi cì wǒ gǎn mào dū huì liú bí xiě。
Whenever I have a cold I get a nosebleed.
2
我不是故意要打断他的鼻梁。我只是一时气急。
wǒ bù shì gù yì yào dǎ duàn tā de bí liáng。 。 wǒ zhī shì yī shí qì。
I didn't mean to break his nose. I just saw red.
3
他伸出舌头，鼻翼扇动着。
tā shēn chū shé tóu， ， bí yì shàn dòng。
He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils.
4
然后他抽了抽鼻子，发觉有一股烧焦的味道。
rán hòu tā chōu le chōu bí zǐ， ， fā jué yǒu yī gǔ shāo jiāo de wèi。
In Western cultures, the nose is similarly regarded as a feature of beauty, but less emphasis is placed on its health implications compared to some traditional Chinese beliefs.
Word Family of 鼻
Compounds20
鼾han1to snore loudly
擤xing3to blow the nose with fingers
劓yi4to cut off the nose
濞bi4a county in Yunnan province
鼽qiu2sclogged nose
齁
齆
齇
齈
齉
嚊
嬶
襣
鼼
鼿
齀
齂
齃
齄zha1red sores on the nose
齅
Words Containing This Character20
鼻子bízinose
鼻bínose
鼻涕bítìsnivel
鼻孔nostril
鼻炎rhinitis
鼻腔nasal cavity
鼻梁bridge of the nose
刺鼻acrid
扑鼻to assail the nostrils (of fragrance and odours)撲鼻
哭鼻子to snivel (usually humorous)
鼻咽癌cancers of the nose and throat
嗤之以鼻to scoff at
鼻尖tip of the nose
流鼻涕to have a runny nose
鼻祖the earliest ancestor
鼻音nasal sound
鼻头(dialect) nose鼻頭
鼻青脸肿badly battered鼻青臉腫
鼻翼ala nasi
鼻窦炎sinusitis鼻竇炎
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 鼻
What does 鼾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鼻
Yes, there are idioms that include 鼻 (bí), such as '闭口不言，心里有数' (bì kǒu bù yán, xīn lǐ yǒu shù), which refers to someone who knows something but doesn't speak about it. The nose may not be explicitly mentioned, but idioms often use body parts metaphorically.
鼻 (bí) means 'nose' in Chinese. It is commonly used in both everyday conversation and in medical contexts to refer to the anatomical structure. Additionally, it can be found in various compound words related to the nose.
You can use 鼻 (bí) in a sentence like '他的鼻子很大' (tā de bízi hěn dà), which means 'His nose is very big.' It is often accompanied by other words to describe or give context about the nose.
It is pronounced as 'bí' with a rising tone, similar to how you would ask a question.
Yes, it can be used in idiomatic expressions, such as 'to lose face' where it relates to pride.
鼻 (bí) is the character for 'nose,' while 鼻子 (bízi) is the noun form that refers specifically to the nose.
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