Definitions
(noun)
shellfish; shell (used as currency in ancient times)
Etymology
Simplified form of 貝. Pictograph of a cowrie shell. In ancient China such shells were used as currency.
About
The character "贝" originates from a pictographic representation of a cowrie shell, which in ancient times served as a form of currency, thus embedding the concept of value directly into its form. Its traditional counterpart "貝" visually echoes the two halves of a shell, and this structural foundation allowed it to function as a semantic component in numerous characters associated with trade and wealth, such as "赠" (to give) and "贷" (to loan). Over centuries, the meaning of "贝" expanded from denoting the physical shell to encompassing broader ideas of money and treasure, a semantic shift that solidified its role within the linguistic system. The simplified form "贝" streamlines the older configuration while preserving its essential outline, ensuring the character's historical lineage remains perceptible even as its written form was modified for practical use.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有一个大贝壳。
我收藏了许多贝壳。
我在海边捡贝壳。
这个宝贝真可爱。
午餐我们吃蒜蓉扇贝。
这些贝类非常新鲜。
我买了一顶新贝雷帽。
他很擅长弹奏贝斯。