Definitions

bīn (adjective) refined; elegant

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "彬" is formed from the components 林, representing a forest and suggesting multiplicity or abundance, and 彡, indicating pattern or ornamentation, which together originally conveyed the idea of something being well-patterned or adorned. Its early usage leaned toward describing a harmonious blend or decorative arrangement, but over time the meaning refined to focus specifically on human qualities, denoting cultured elegance and refined manners. This shift is evident in classical literature where the term, often duplicated as "彬彬", came to symbolize a person embodying a balanced and graceful integration of substance and style, thus moving from a general notion of ordered beauty to a specific ideal of personal refinement and civil demeanor.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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

我的朋友叫李

Wǒ de péngyou jiào Lǐ Bīn.

My friend is called Li Bin.

喜欢看书。

Wáng Bīn xǐhuān kànshū.

Wang Bin likes reading books.

每天都锻炼身体。

Lǐ Bīn měi tiān dōu duànliàn shēntǐ.

Li Bin exercises every day.

和明明一起去公园。

Bīnbin hé Míngming yīqǐ qù gōngyuán.

Binbin and Mingming go to the park together.

我的老师叫陈文

Wǒ de lǎoshī jiào Chén Wénbīn.

My teacher is called Chen Wenbin.

在图书馆里学习。

Zhāng Bīn zài túshūguǎn lǐ xuéxí.

Zhang Bin is studying in the library.

的爸爸是一位工程师。

Bīnbin de bàba shì yī wèi gōngchéngshī.

Binbin's father is an engineer.

当我们见到时,他正在帮助老人。

Dāng wǒmen jiàn dào Bīnbin shí, tā zhèngzài bāngzhù lǎorén.

When we saw Binbin, he was helping an old person.