碑

bēi

卑 + 石

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

bēi (noun) monument; stone tablet; stele

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 卑 represents the sound.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 卑

About

碑 is a phonosemantic compound: 石 'stone' on the left gives the meaning, and 卑 (bēi) on the right gives the sound. Originally, it referred to a stone pillar with a hole, used in ancient times either to tether sacrificial animals at a temple or to lower a coffin by rope. As burial customs evolved, it came to mean an inscribed stone tablet or stele, erected at tombs, temples, or historical sites to record events, commemorate individuals, or mark boundaries.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们去看纪念碑。

Wǒmen qù kàn jìniànbēi.

We go to see the monument.

这座纪念碑很高大。

Zhè zuò jìniànbēi hěn gāodà.

This monument is very tall and grand.

碑上刻着英雄的名字。

Bēi shàng kèzhe yīngxióng de míngzì.

The stele is engraved with the hero's name.

古代碑文记载了历史。

Gǔdài bēiwén jìzǎile lìshǐ.

Ancient inscriptions record history.

墓地里的墓碑排列整齐。

Mùdì lǐ de mùbēi páiliè zhěngqí.

The tombstones in the cemetery are arranged neatly.

人们在新碑前献花致敬。

Rénmen zài xīn bēi qián xiàn huā zhìjìng.

People lay flowers and pay respects in front of the new stele.

由于年代久远，石碑已经风化。

Yóuyú niándài jiǔyuǎn, shíbēi yǐjīng fēnghuà.

Due to age, the stone tablet has weathered.

这座丰碑不仅纪念过去，也启迪未来。

Zhè zuò fēngbēi bùjǐn jìniàn guòqù, yě qǐdí wèilái.

This monument not only commemorates the past but also enlightens the future.

Related Characters

Component: 卑

Component: 石

碑