Definitions

biě variant of 癟|瘪[biě]
biě deflated; shriveled; sunken; empty

Etymology phono-semantic

sickness

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "瘪" derives from its traditional form "癟", which combines the sickness radical "疒" with the component "扁", the latter implying flatness and thus etymologically suggesting a shriveled or collapsed physical state. Initially denoting conditions like emaciation or deflation, its meaning expanded to describe anything lacking substance or volume, such as dry objects or feeble arguments. In the simplified form "瘪", the component "扁" is replaced by "别" as a phonetic element, while the "疒" radical continues to link the character to concepts of deficiency or reduction.

Example Sentences Hide

车胎完全了。

Chē tāi wánquán biě le.

The tire is completely flat.

这个气球有点了。

Zhè ge qìqiú yǒudiǎn biě le.

This balloon is a bit deflated.

他饿得肚子都了。

Tā è dù dōu biě le.

He's so hungry his stomach has gone flat.

的苹果没人想吃。

Gānbiě de píngguǒ méi rén xiǎng chī.

No one wants to eat the shriveled apple.

被拒绝后,他顿时了气。

Bèi jùjué hòu, tā dùnshí biě le qì.

After being rejected, he immediately lost his enthusiasm.

连续干旱让种子变得干

Liánxù gānhàn ràng zhǒngzi biàn de gānbiě.

The continuous drought made the seeds become shriveled.

三的伎俩骗不了明白人。

Biēsān de jìliǎng piàn bù liǎo míngbai rén.

A tramp's tricks can't fool a sensible person.

经济制裁让它的钱包了下去。

Jīngjì zhìcái ràng tā de qiánbāo biě le xiàqù.

The economic sanctions caused his wallet to shrink.