Meanings of 白
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About 白
Podcast: 白
Podcast: 白
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AI Study Notes for 白
白 (bái) vs 明 (míng) — use 白 for color or clarity, while 明 emphasizes brightness or intelligence.
Learners often confuse 白 with other colors; ensure to use it specifically to describe 'white.' It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but when used as a surname, it is typically more formal. Be mindful of tone; pronounced incorrectly, it can change the meaning entirely.
As an HSK Level 2 word, 白 connects well with other basic color terms and adjectives, creating a foundation for describing objects and emotions. Focus on using it in simple sentences to describe items or feelings, like '白的雪' (white snow).
Learners often confuse 白 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 了 (le) or 拜 (bài). For example, saying '我有白色的牛' (I have a white cow) is correct, but writing '我有了白色的牛' introduces an unnecessary particle that changes the meaning.
Pronunciation of 白
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Etymology of 白
Origin unclear. Used in ancient texts to mean "white" and "hundred" (百).
A burning candle; the rays of the sun
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 白
Origin unclear. Used in ancient texts to mean "white" and "hundred" (百).
- 1The giveawayA burning candle; the rays of the sun
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 白? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 白?
Decomposition of 白
Identify the Components
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How to say white in Chinese
“white” in Chinese is白
The character 白 (bái) primarily means 'white' and can connote purity, brightness, and clarity. It is commonly used in contexts related to color, cleanliness, and clarity of thought or expression. Additionally, it can serve as a surname and has various nuanced meanings, including 'blank' or 'empty.'
When to use 白
Learners often confuse 白 with other colors; ensure to use it specifically to describe 'white.' It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but when used as a surname, it is typically more formal. Be mindful of tone; pronounced incorrectly, it can change the meaning entirely.
白 or something close to it
白 (bái) vs 明 (míng) — use 白 for color or clarity, while 明 emphasizes brightness or intelligence.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 白 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 了 (le) or 拜 (bài). For example, saying '我有白色的牛' (I have a white cow) is correct, but writing '我有了白色的牛' introduces an unnecessary particle that changes the meaning.
Write 白
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Practice writing 白 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 白
白 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 23 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.
Complete the Sentence
花是____的。
The flowers are white.
Example Sentences for 白 (19)
Word Family of 白
Compound Meaning
What does 的 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 白
Common phrases include '白纸' (blank paper) and '白天' (daytime), which highlight its use in describing color and time.
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