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
贝 is the simplified form of 貝. It originated as a pictograph of a cowrie shell, with ridges and an opening at the bottom. In ancient China, cowrie shells served as currency, so the character came to denote wealth and valuables. As a common radical, 贝 appears in characters related to money and trade, such as 财 (wealth), 购 (purchase), and 贵 (expensive). The simplified form streamlined the internal strokes and bottom legs for easier writing.
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。
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