炳

bǐng

丙 + 火

Definitions

bǐng (adjective) bright; brilliant; luminous

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 丙 represents the sound.

Semantic: 火 Phonetic: 丙

About

炳 is a phono-semantic compound: the fire radical 火 on the left provides the meaning (fire, light, and heat), while the right-side component 丙 supplies the sound. The character originally means bright, brilliant, or radiant, like the intense glow of a flame. From this luminous quality, it metaphorically extends to things that are clearly evident, manifest, or exceptionally clear. Today, 炳 appears mainly in formal writing and personal names, suggesting an illustrious reputation, brilliant achievements, or a radiant personality.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

李炳是我的好朋友。

Lǐ Bǐng shì wǒ de hǎo péngyou.

Li Bing is my good friend.

王炳每天锻炼身体。

Wáng Bǐng měi tiān duànliàn shēntǐ.

Wang Bing exercises every day.

张炳的学习成绩很好。

Zhāng Bǐng de xuéxí chéngjī hěn hǎo.

Zhang Bing's academic performance is very good.

赵炳经常帮助别人。

Zhào Bǐng jīngcháng bāngzhù biérén.

Zhao Bing often helps others.

吴炳的计划进行得很顺利。

Wú Bǐng de jìhuà jìnxíng de hěn shùnlì.

Wu Bing's plan is proceeding smoothly.

太阳炳耀着大地。

Tàiyáng bǐngyào zhe dàdì.

The sun shines brightly on the earth.

他的功绩彪炳史册。

Tā de gōngjì biāobǐng shǐcè.

His achievements are recorded shiningly in history.

这篇文章炳蔚纷呈，令人赞叹。

Zhè piān wénzhāng bǐngwèi fēnchéng, lìng rén zàntàn.

This article is brilliant and diverse, making people admire.

Related Characters

Component: 丙

Component: 火

炳