蓓 (bèi): (in 蓓蕾) flower bud

Meanings

花园里的蓓蕾即将绽放。

Huāyuán lǐ de bèilěi jíjiāng zhànfàng.

The flower buds in the garden are about to open.

孩子就像尚未开放的蓓蕾。

Háizi jiùxiàng shàngwèi kāifàng de bèilěi.

Children are like flower buds yet to bloom.

usage

Only used in 蓓蕾 (a flower bud still tightly rolled up). It carries a poetic image of youth and unrealized potential.

radical

艹 cǎo

grass; plant

Top 艹 is the grass radical 艸 in top form. It marks 蓓 as plant-related — a flower bud.

phonetic

倍 bèi

times; multiple; phonetic

Below sits 倍 supplying the sound exactly (bèi = bèi). The shared phonetic core 咅 also anchors 陪 (to accompany) and 培 (to cultivate).

蓓 bèi