薛宝钗

薛寶釵

XuēBǎochāi

proper noun

Meanings

1 Xue Baochai, one of the two female leads of 《红楼梦》 ('Dream of the Red Chamber')
2 beautiful, pragmatic cousin who marries Jia Baoyu

Characters

treasure; precious

ornamental hairpin

Examples

薛宝钗端庄贤淑。

Xuēbǎochāi duānzhuāng xián shū.

Xue Baochai is dignified and virtuous.

薛宝钗与林黛玉形成鲜明对比。

Xuēbǎochāi yǔ Líndàiyù xíngchéng xiānmíng duìbǐ.

Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu form a sharp contrast.

Tips

culture

Baochai wears a golden locket (金锁) inscribed with a motto that matches the inscription on Baoyu's jade — the 'gold-and-jade match' (金玉良缘) the elders favor over Baoyu's love for Daiyu. She is the cool, composed Confucian foil to Daiyu's romantic fire.

memory

宝钗 = 'precious hairpin'. Where Daiyu is 黛 (eyebrow pigment — emotion inked on the face), Baochai is 钗 (a solid ornament — polished, ornamental propriety).

Stroke Order

薛 Xuē

宝 bǎo

钗 chāi