鞭

biān

便 + 革

Definitions

biān (noun) whip; lash

biān (verb) to whip; to flog

biān (noun) conductor's baton

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 便 represents the sound.

Semantic: 革 Phonetic: 便

About

鞭 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical 革 (leather, animal hide) points to the traditional material for whips, while the right-side component 便 gives the pronunciation. Originally, it meant a whip, a tool of braided leather or cord used for driving animals or corporal punishment. From this, the meaning extended to the act of whipping, and then to a metaphorical sense of urging or spurring someone to action or self-improvement.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们一起放鞭炮。

Wǒmen yīqǐ fàng biānpào.

We set off firecrackers together.

车夫挥舞着鞭子。

Chēfū huīwǔ zhe biānzi.

The carter waves the whip.

不要用鞭子打动物。

Bùyào yòng biānzi dǎ dòngwù.

Do not whip animals.

鞭炮的声音很大。

Biānpào de shēngyīn hěn dà.

The sound of firecrackers is very loud.

他受到老师的鞭策。

Tā shòu dào lǎoshī de biāncè.

He is spurred on by the teacher.

鞭打是残酷的惩罚。

Biāndǎ shì cánkù de chéngfá.

Whipping is a cruel punishment.

这种鞭策让他更努力。

Zhè zhǒng biāncè ràng tā gèng nǔlì.

This kind of spurring makes him work harder.

历史上的鞭刑已被废除。

Lìshǐ shàng de biānxíng yǐ bèi fèichú.

Flogging in history has been abolished.

Related Characters

Component: 便

Component: 革

Example Words