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倍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
倍
bèi
(two, three etc) -fold
HSK 4, m, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1789, Medium
倍
bèi
times (multiplier)
HSK 4, m, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1789, Medium
倍
bèi
double
HSK 4, m, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1789, Medium
倍
bèi
to increase or multiply
HSK 4, m, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1789, Medium
倍
bèi
to double; to increase or multiply
HSK 4, m, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1789, Medium
bèi(bei4)bei T4
1(two, three etc) -fold
2times (multiplier)
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March 24, 2026
倍bèi(bei4)
The character 倍 (bèi) is used to indicate a multiplication factor, such as 'twice' or 'three times'. It is commonly used in mathematical contexts or to express increases in quantity, emphasizing the extent of multiplication or doubling. For example, '两倍' (liǎng bèi) means 'twice' or 'double'.
Strokes10Radical亻Frequency#1789DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of doubling or multiplying is often tied to prosperity and success, as seen in customs during the Lunar New Year where wishes for 'double happiness' are common.
Memory tip
Imagine a pair of binoculars (the two 'lenses' represent '倍'), helping you see things twice as clearly. The 'bèi' sound can remind you of 'bay', where you can see double the views.
Meanings of 倍
bèi(bei4)
1(two, three etc) -fold
2times (multiplier)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 倍
倍Simplified
10Strokes
亻Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#1789Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 倍
Podcast: 倍
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AI study notes for 倍
Quick Contrast
倍 (bèi) vs 次 (cì) — use 倍 for multiplication factors, while 次 refers to frequency or order.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include misusing 倍 with single quantities instead of multiplicative contexts. It is more formal and should be used in contexts where precision in quantity is needed, such as in academic or financial discussions. Be careful with tones; 倍 is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 倍 connects with other mathematical terms and quantifiers. Students should focus on its usage in comparisons and multiplicative expressions, such as '增加倍数' (increased by times).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 倍 with similar terms like 次 (cì), which means 'times' in a different context. For example, saying '我吃了两次' (I ate two times) instead of '我吃了两倍' is incorrect when referring to quantity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 倍
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The character 倍 (bèi) is used to indicate a multiplication factor, such as 'twice' or 'three times'. It is commonly used in mathematical contexts or to express increases in quantity, emphasizing the extent of multiplication or doubling. For example, '两倍' (liǎng bèi) means 'twice' or 'double'.
When to use 倍
Common mistakes include misusing 倍 with single quantities instead of multiplicative contexts. It is more formal and should be used in contexts where precision in quantity is needed, such as in academic or financial discussions. Be careful with tones; 倍 is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi).
倍 or something close to it
倍 (bèi) vs 次 (cì) — use 倍 for multiplication factors, while 次 refers to frequency or order.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 倍 with similar terms like 次 (cì), which means 'times' in a different context. For example, saying '我吃了两次' (I ate two times) instead of '我吃了两倍' is incorrect when referring to quantity.
Write 倍
倍
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Grammar patterns of 倍
倍 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 5 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.
The new planet is about ten times the size of the earth.
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Word Family of 倍
Compounds1
蓓bèiflower bud
Words containing this character20
倍bèidouble
加倍jiābèito double
倍感bèigǎnto feel even more
百倍bǎibèia hundredfold
倍增bèizēngto double
事半功倍shìbàngōngbèia stitch in time saves nine
倍数bèishùmultiple倍數
双倍shuāngbèitwofold雙倍
安倍ānbèiAbe (Japanese surname)
倍儿bèirvery倍兒
翻倍fānbèito double
安倍晋三ānbèijìnsānAbe Shinzo (1954-), Japanese LDP politician, prime minister 2006-2007 and from 2012安倍晉三
事倍功半shìbèigōngbàntwice the effort for half the result
二倍体èrbèitǐdiploid (in cell biology)二倍體
每逢佳节倍思亲měiféngjiājiébèisīqīndoubly homesick for our dear ones at each festive day (from a poem by Wang Wei 王維|王维[WángWéi])每逢佳節倍思親
信心百倍xìnxīnbǎibèibrimming with confidence (idiom)
单倍体dānbèitǐhaploid (single chromosome)單倍體
多倍体duōbèitǐpolyploid (multiple chromosomes)多倍體
最小公倍数zuìxiǎogōngbèishùleast common multiple最小公倍數
八倍体bābèitǐoctoploid八倍體
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 倍
What does 蓓 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 倍
倍 (bèi) refers specifically to a multiplication factor, indicating how many times something occurs or is increased. On the other hand, 次 (cì) is used to indicate the number of occurrences or instances, such as '一次' (yī cì) meaning 'one time'.
Yes, 倍 (bèi) is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing prices, quantities, or any context where multiplication or increase is relevant. It's a useful term for learners to know when talking about comparisons or changes.
倍 (bèi) means 'times' or 'fold' in Chinese, indicating a multiplication factor. For example, if you say '两倍' (liǎng bèi), it means 'twice' or 'two times'. It can also refer to increasing something by a certain factor.
You can use 倍 (bèi) to express multiplication or increase in various contexts. For example, '我的工资增加了三倍' (Wǒ de gōngzī zēngjiā le sān bèi) means 'My salary has increased threefold.' It's commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
You can say '这件衣服的价格是原来的三倍' which means 'The price of this clothing is three times the original.'
While it is most commonly used with numbers, 倍 can also be used in idiomatic expressions to convey increase, such as '效益翻倍' (benefits doubled).
Yes, it can be used in informal contexts, but be sure it fits the mathematical or comparative nature of the discussion.
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