呗

唄
bài, bei
口 + 贝

Definitions

bei (particle) modal particle indicating 'obviously' or 'of course'
bài (verb) to chant (Buddhist texts)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 贝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 唄.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 贝

About

呗 began as a phonetic loan in Buddhist translations, pronounced bèi, transcribing the Sanskrit pāṭha, the rhythmic chanting of hymns and scriptures. It is a phono-semantic compound: 口 (kǒu, "mouth") provides the meaning of vocalization, while 贝 (bèi) indicates the sound. The traditional form 唄 retains the unsimplified phonetic 貝. In modern colloquial Chinese, 呗 also functions as the neutral-tone sentence-final particle bei, conveying obviousness, resignation, or that something is the only option.

Example Sentences Hide

你喜欢就去呗。

Nǐ xǐhuān jiù qù bei.

If you like it, then go ahead.

我们去散步呗。

Wǒmen qù sànbù bei.

Let's go for a walk.

他知道了就行呗。

Tā zhīdào le jiù xíng bei.

As long as he knows, it's fine.

这件事很简单呗。

Zhè jiàn shì hěn jiǎndān bei.

This matter is very simple.

既然来了，就玩得开心呗。

Jìrán lái le, jiù wán de kāixīn bei.

Since you're here, just have fun.

如果你不想说，就别说了呗。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xiǎng shuō, jiù bié shuō le bei.

If you don't want to talk, then don't say it.

大家都同意了，你还犹豫什么呗。

Dàjiā dōu tóngyì le, nǐ hái yóuyù shénme bei.

Everyone has agreed, so what are you hesitating for.

鉴于时间紧迫，我们必须尽快决定呗。

Jiànyú shíjiān jǐnpò, wǒmen bìxū jǐnkuài juédìng bei.

Given the time constraint, we must decide as soon as possible.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 贝

员 资 则 质 费 责 财 负 货 败 贵 赛 购 贸

Example Words

梵呗 花呗