拜

bài

一 + 丰 + 龵

Definitions

bài (verb) to bow; to pay respect; to worship

bài (verb) to visit; to call on

Etymology

Depicts a hand (手) pulling a plant (𠦪) out of the ground. Based on the original meaning "pull out", now written as 拔. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 拜 originally combined 手 (hand) with a depiction of a plant (𠦪) being pulled from the ground, conveying "to pull out", a meaning now written as 拔. Through phonetic loan, it shifted to represent bowing in reverence, worshiping deities, paying respects to elders, and offering festive greetings. It also describes formally accepting a high position or acknowledging a teacher.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我今天去拜访他。

Wǒ jīntiān qù bàifǎng tā.

I am going to visit him today.

我们崇拜英雄。

Wǒmen chóngbài yīngxióng.

We worship heroes.

她拜访了老师。

Tā bàifǎng le lǎoshī.

She visited the teacher.

他拜师学艺。

Tā bài shī xué yì.

He apprenticed to a master to learn a skill.

春节时我们拜年。

Chūnjié shí wǒmen bài nián.

During Spring Festival, we pay New Year visits.

我们必须拜谢他的帮助。

Wǒmen bìxū bài xiè tā de bāngzhù.

We must bow and thank him for his help.

他虔诚地拜佛。

Tā qiánchéng de bài fó.

He devoutly worships Buddha.

在仪式上他们跪拜祖先。

Zài yíshì shàng tāmen guì bài zǔxiān.

In the ceremony, they kneel and worship their ancestors.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Component: 丰

Component: 龵

Example Words