八

bā

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

bā (numeral) eight; 8

Etymology

Pictograph of two lines facing away from each other. The current meaning "eight" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "separate" is now written as 別.

About

八 originated as a pictograph of two lines bending away from each other, depicting separation. It was later borrowed phonetically for the number eight, which became its dominant meaning. The original sense "separate" is now written as 別, while 八 still appears as a semantic component in characters related to division or splitting.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我今年八岁了。

Wǒ jīnnián bā suì le.

I am eight years old now.

现在是八点钟。

Xiànzài shì bā diǎnzhōng.

It is eight o'clock.

八月是夏天。

Bā yuè shì xiàtiān.

August is summer.

这本书八块钱。

Zhè běn shū bā kuài qián.

This book is eight yuan.

我们八点出发。

Wǒmen bā diǎn chūfā.

We leave at eight o'clock.

他买了八个苹果。

Tā mǎi le bā gè píngguǒ.

He bought eight apples.

明天是八月八日。

Míngtiān shì bā yuè bā rì.

Tomorrow is August 8th.

这个房间有八平方米。

Zhège fángjiān yǒu bā píngfāng mǐ.

This room is eight square meters.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 八

Example Words