皮

pí

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

pí (noun) skin; leather; hide

pí (adjective) naughty; mischievous

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand (又) peeling off the skin from an animal.

About

皮 (pí) is a pictograph of a hand (又) peeling skin from an animal. The top portion shows the hand pulling the hide away, giving the primary sense of animal hide, pelt, or unrefined leather. The meaning broadened to include human skin, the peels or rinds of fruits and vegetables, and tree bark, and later extended to any outer surface or covering of an object. It is also used as an adjective to describe naughty, mischievous, or thick-skinned behavior.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的皮肤很白。

Wǒ de pífū hěn bái.

My skin is very white.

这个苹果皮很薄。

Zhège píngguǒ pí hěn báo.

This apple's peel is very thin.

他调皮地笑了。

Tā tiáopí de xiào le.

He smiled naughtily.

皮革制品很耐用。

Pígé zhìpǐn hěn nàiyòng.

Leather products are very durable.

西瓜皮可以做成菜。

Xīguā pí kěyǐ zuò chéng cài.

Watermelon peel can be made into dishes.

她的皮包是红色的。

Tā de píbāo shì hóngsè de.

Her leather bag is red.

剥橘子皮时小心点。

Bō júzi pí shí xiǎoxīn diǎn.

Be careful when peeling the orange.

这种皮肤病需要治疗。

Zhè zhǒng pífūbìng xūyào zhìliáo.

This skin disease requires treatment.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 皮

Example Words