毕

畢
bì
verb #6,537

Meanings

  1. 1 to finish; to complete
  2. 2 whole; entire; fully

Examples

HSK 4
Tā qùnián dàxué bìyè le.
She graduated from university last year.
HSK 5
Bìjìng tā háishì gè háizi.
After all, he is still a child.

Tips

usage
毕业 = to graduate, 毕竟 = after all. 毕 implies completion or totality.

Components

radical
比 bǐ
compare; two side-by-side figures
The 比 radical on top supplies both the sound (bǐ shifted to bì) and the dictionary index. Originally 畢 had 田 (field) under 比 - picturing a long-handled net used in field hunting. The simplified 毕 keeps the phonetic 比 cap but trims the bottom.
ideograph
十 shí
ten; net-handle shape
Bottom cross-stroke functions as a positional marker beneath the phonetic, anchoring the silhouette and completing the 'finish' meaning. Not the numeral ten despite the 十 shape. Historically a stylized residue of an older net-and-handle element fused beyond clean decomposition.

Stroke Order

毕 bì