匪

fěi

匚 + 非

Definitions

fěi (noun) bandit

fěi (adverb) not

Etymology phono-semantic

basket

Semantic: 匚 Phonetic: 非

About

匪 is a phono-semantic compound formed by the semantic component 匚 (box) enclosing the phonetic 非 (fēi). It originally referred to a square bamboo box or basket for holding items in daily life. Through phonetic borrowing, it was frequently used in classical Chinese as a negation word, functioning as a loan for 非 'not'. Eventually, its meaning shifted dramatically, and it is now widely used to denote bandits, robbers, or rebels, entirely disconnected from its literal origins as a woven container.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那个土匪很凶恶。

Nà gè tǔ fěi hěn xiōng è.

That bandit is very fierce.

匪徒被警察抓住了。

Fěi tú bèi jǐng chá zhuā zhù le.

The bandit was caught by the police.

山区曾有匪患。

Shān qū céng yǒu fěi huàn.

The mountainous area once had banditry.

匪首最终投降了。

Fěi shǒu zuì zhōng tóu xiáng le.

The bandit leader finally surrendered.

这些匪徒抢劫了银行。

Zhè xiē fěi tú qiǎng jié le yín háng.

These bandits robbed the bank.

政府出兵剿匪，维护治安。

Zhèng fǔ chū bīng jiǎo fěi, wéi hù zhì ān.

The government sent troops to suppress bandits and maintain order.

他的行为近乎匪类。

Tā de xíng wéi jìn hū fěi lèi.

His behavior is almost like that of a villain.

历史上，匪帮常常与官府对抗。

Lì shǐ shàng, fěi bāng cháng cháng yǔ guān fǔ duì kàng.

Historically, bandit gangs often opposed the government.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 匚

Component: 非

匪