悲

bēi

心 + 非

Definitions

bēi (noun) sorrow; grief; sadness

bēi (adjective) sad; sorrowful

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 非

About

The character 悲 is a phono-semantic compound composed of the heart/mind radical 心 (xīn) at the bottom, signaling that its meaning relates to emotions, and the phonetic component 非 (fēi) at the top. Its primary meanings are sorrow, sadness, grief, or a deep sense of melancholy, an emotional state of profound inner pain or mourning that extends beyond fleeting unhappiness to more enduring, severe distress. In addition to expressing personal sorrow, it also conveys compassion, pity, or sympathy for others' suffering, a usage particularly prominent in philosophical contexts discussing benevolence.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

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

悲剧令人深思。

Bēijù lìng rén shēnsī.

Tragedies make people think deeply.

他的表情很悲伤。

Tā de biǎoqíng hěn bēishāng.

His expression is very sad.

听到这个消息，她很悲痛。

Tīng dào zhège xiāoxi, tā hěn bēitòng.

Upon hearing this news, she was grief-stricken.

这部电影的结局十分悲哀。

Zhè bù diànyǐng de jiéjú shífēn bēi'āi.

The ending of this movie is utterly sorrowful.

请不要沉浸在悲观情绪里。

Qǐng bùyào chénjìn zài bēiguān qíngxù lǐ.

Please don't wallow in pessimistic emotions.

那段悲惨的历史不应被遗忘。

Nà duàn bēicǎn de lìshǐ bù yīng bèi yíwàng.

That tragic period of history should not be forgotten.

他的离去给亲友带来无尽悲恸。

Tā de líqù gěi qīnyǒu dàilái wújìn bēitòng.

His departure brought endless grief to his family and friends.

诗人笔下的悲凉秋色触动人心。

Shīrén bǐxià de bēiliáng qiūsè chùdòng rénxīn.

The desolate autumn scenery depicted by the poet touches people's hearts.

Related Characters

Component: 心

Component: 非

悲