Definitions

pèi (verb) to match; to pair
pèi (verb) to deserve; to be worthy of
pèi (verb) to allocate; to distribute

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and a remnant of represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "mix wine". The meaning later shifted to "match".

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "配" is structured with the semantic component 酉, which relates to wine or alcohol, and the phonetic component 己, indicating its original association with the blending or mixing of wines. This concrete meaning gradually extended to more abstract concepts of making things correspond, such as matching or pairing items or individuals. Over time, its semantic range expanded further to include allocating, equipping, and denoting suitability or worthiness, reflecting a shift from a specific material process to broader relational and functional applications.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

红色白色很好看。

Hóngsè pèi báisè hěn hǎokàn.

Red matches white very well.

老师给我们分了任务。

Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen fēnpèi le rènwù.

The teacher assigned tasks to us.

饮食搭要合理。

Yǐnshí dāpèi yào hélǐ.

Dietary combination should be reasonable.

公司备了新电脑。

Gōngsī pèibèi le xīn diànnǎo.

The company equipped new computers.

这两个人对成功。

Zhè liǎng gè rén pèiduì chénggōng.

These two people paired successfully.

得上这个荣誉。

Tā pèi dé shàng zhège róngyù.

He deserves this honor.

医生给我了一些药。

Yīshēng gěi wǒ pèi le yīxiē yào.

The doctor prescribed some medicine for me.

我们需要置更多的服务器来支持这个系统。

Wǒmen xūyào pèizhì gèng duō de fúwùqì lái zhīchí zhège xìtǒng.

We need to configure more servers to support this system.