Definitions

bèi paper or cloth pasted together

Etymology phono-semantic

cloth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound combining the clothing radical with the phonetic (back). It denotes a traditional Chinese short coat or sleeveless jacket worn as an outer layer, and also the practice of pasting layers of cloth or paper to the back of a scroll or fabric for reinforcement. The phonetic element (back) plays a dual role: it alludes to the garment's placement on the back and to the notion of a structural backing.