辟邪

bìxié

verb #32,504

Meanings

1 to ward off evil spirits; to repel evil
2 (noun) a mythical lion-like beast believed to drive away evil (also called 貔貅)

Characters

to ward off; to repel

Examples

他在门上挂了一个桃木剑，据说可以辟邪。

Tā zài mén shàng guàle yīgè táomù jiàn, jùshuō kěyǐ bìxié.

He hung a peachwood sword on the door — it's said to ward off evil.

孩子们戴着红绳，希望辟邪保平安。

Háizimen dàizhe hóngshéng, xīwàng bìxié bǎo píng'ān.

The children wear red strings, hoping to ward off evil and stay safe.

Tips

culture

Folk objects believed to 辟邪 include peachwood items (桃木), red strings (红绳), 八卦镜 mirrors, and 貔貅 figurines. Spring Festival couplets, firecrackers, and the character 福 hung upside-down all originate from 辟邪 customs — driving away the New Year monster 年兽.

mistakes

When 辟 means 'to repel/ward off', read it bì (4th tone). The same character is read pì in 开辟 'to open up' and 精辟 'incisive'. 辟邪 is always bìxié.

Stroke Order

辟 pì

邪 xié