倍

bèi

亻 + 咅

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

bèi (numeral) times; fold (multiplier)

bèi (verb) to multiply; to increase

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 咅 represents the sound.

About

倍 is a phono-semantic compound: the radical 亻 (person) gives the meaning, while 咅 indicates the sound. Its core sense is a multiple or fold, used in mathematics to express how many times greater one quantity is than another, the standard term for ratios and proportions. By extension, it describes an increased degree or intensified state, whether of emotions, effort, or other quantities, applying the idea of multiplication to abstract contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的工资加倍了。

Wǒ de gōngzī jiā bèi le.

My salary has doubled.

他的速度是我的两倍。

Tā de sùdù shì wǒ de liǎng bèi.

His speed is twice mine.

我们需要加倍努力。

Wǒmen xūyào jiā bèi nǔlì.

We need to redouble our efforts.

这本书的价格是那本书的两倍。

Zhè běn shū de jiàgé shì nà běn shū de liǎng bèi.

The price of this book is twice that of that book.

今年的产量比去年增加了一倍。

Jīnnián de chǎnliàng bǐ qùnián zēngjiā le yī bèi.

This year's output has increased by one times compared to last year.

通过新技术，效率得以成倍提升。

Tōngguò xīn jìshù, xiàolǜ déyǐ chéng bèi tíshēng.

Through new technology, efficiency has been multiplied.

在市场需求推动下，公司规模扩大了数倍。

Zài shìchǎng xūqiú tuīdòng xià, gōngsī guīmó kuòdà le shù bèi.

Driven by market demand, the company's scale has expanded several times.

尽管投资增加了数倍，但利润却没有相应增长。

Jǐnguǎn tóuzī zēngjiā le shù bèi, dàn lìrùn què méiyǒu xiāngyìng zēngzhǎng.

Although the investment increased several times, the profit did not grow correspondingly.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 咅

倍