Definitions

bìn a funeral; to encoffin a corpse; to carry to burial

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character for funeral rites, originally written as 殯, integrates the semantic component 歹, which broadly signifies death or calamity, with the element 賓, meaning guest or to host, thus etymologically suggesting the ritual of hosting the deceased or receiving mourners. Historically, this term encompassed various stages of funeral preparation, particularly the lying in state where the body was placed in a coffin and honored before burial, with its meaning gradually narrowing to focus on these specific interment procedures. The traditional form’s structure explicitly links death with ceremonial hospitality, while the simplified version 殡 retains the indicative death radical but substitutes the complex phonetic element with the streamlined 宾, maintaining the character’s essential conceptual foundation while altering its graphical composition.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他去仪馆了。

Tā qù bìn yí guǎn le.

He went to the funeral home.

葬服务很重要。

Bìn zàng fú wù hěn zhòng yào.

Funeral services are very important.

的时候很多人来。

Chū bìn de shí hòu hěn duō rén lái.

Many people came during the funeral procession.

仪车缓缓驶过街道。

Bìn yí chē huǎn huǎn shǐ guò jiē dào.

The hearse slowly drove through the street.

他们负责葬事宜。

Tā men fù zé bìn zàng shì yí.

They are in charge of funeral arrangements.

葬行业需要尊重。

Bìn zàng háng yè xū yào zūn zhòng.

The funeral industry needs respect.

仪馆举行告别仪式。

Zài bìn yí guǎn jǔ xíng gào bié yí shì.

The farewell ceremony is held at the funeral home.

现代葬方式更加环保。

Xiàn dài bìn zàng fāng shì gèng jiā huán bǎo.

Modern funeral methods are more environmentally friendly.