璧玉

bìyù

noun

Measure Word

一块璧玉 kuài

Meanings

1 fine jade
2 jade disk with a central hole (a 璧)
3 person of pure character

Characters

ritual jade disk

Examples

HSK 6

古代王侯常以璧玉为礼。

Gǔdài wáng hóu cháng yǐ bìyù wéi lǐ.

Ancient nobles often gave fine jade as ceremonial gifts.

HSK 7-9

她品行如璧玉一般高洁。

Tā pǐnxíng rú bìyù yìbān gāo jié.

Her character is as pure and noble as fine jade.

Tips

history

璧 is a flat ring of jade with a central hole, used in Zhou-dynasty ritual to symbolize Heaven (paired with 琮 for Earth). The chengyu 完璧归赵 ('return the jade to Zhao intact') refers to the famous He Shi Bi (和氏璧).

Stroke Order

璧 bì

玉 yù