琵

pí

noun #25,607

Meanings

1 component of 琵琶 (pipa lute); used only in the word 琵琶

Characters

琵

pí

component of pipa (Chinese lute)

Examples

琵琶是中国传统的弹拨乐器。

Pípá shì Zhōngguó chuántǒng de tán bō yuèqì.

The pipa is a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument.

她正在练习弹琵琶。

Tā zhèngzài liànxí tán pípá.

She is practicing playing the pipa.

Tips

usage

琵 is never used alone in modern Chinese; it only appears as the first character of 琵琶 (pípá), the traditional Chinese lute. The full word 琵琶 should be learned as a unit.

Components

radical

玨 jué

pair of jade pieces

Top 玨 — two 王 (jade) shapes side by side, the doubled-jade character. The radical anchor for 琵 (indexed under 王/玉 jade in dictionaries) — a hint that the pipa was originally strung with silk and prized as a refined instrument. The pair imagery also evokes the twin musical notes plucked together.

phonetic

比 bǐ

compare; alongside

Bottom 比 supplies the sound — bǐ shifting to pí via b/p initial alternation. 比 itself shows two people standing side by side, reinforcing the 'paired' feel of the doubled jade above. Same phonetic in 毗 to adjoin, 琶 the partner character forming 琵琶 pípá lute.

Stroke Order

琵 pí

琵