Definitions

bèi to dry over a fire; to bake

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "焙" is constructed from the semantic component for fire (火) and a phonetic component that hints at its pronunciation, forming a character whose core meaning has remained consistently tied to a specific method of applying gentle, dry heat. Its etymology points directly to the action of drying or warming something by a fire, a process historically essential in food preparation and the curing of medicinal herbs. Over centuries, its application became more specialized, particularly within the context of tea processing, where it refers to the precise final stage of roasting tea leaves to arrest oxidation and develop flavor. While the fundamental concept of heating has not changed, the character's usage has narrowed from a general term for warming by fire to a more technical term associated with artisanal crafts like tea-making and certain cooking techniques, reflecting a refinement in its practical application over time.

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈在烘蛋糕。

Māmā zài hōngbèi dàngāo.

Mom is baking a cake.

我喜欢烤的面包。

Wǒ xǐhuān bèikǎo de miànbāo.

I like baked bread.

他用烤箱饼干。

Tā yòng kǎoxiāng bèi bǐnggān.

He uses the oven to bake cookies.

茶需要控制温度。

Bèi chá xūyào kòngzhì wēndù.

Baking tea requires controlling the temperature.

这种咖啡豆经过精心烘

Zhè zhǒng kāfēi dòu jīngguò jīngxīn hōngbèi.

This type of coffee bean undergoes careful roasting.

烧工序影响产品质量。

Bèishāo gōngxù yǐngxiǎng chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.

The roasting process affects product quality.

他们正在制中药材。

Tāmen zhèngzài bèizhì zhōngyàocái.

They are baking traditional Chinese medicine.

干后的水果可以保存更久。

Bèi gān hòu de shuǐguǒ kěyǐ bǎocún gèng jiǔ.

Fruits after being dried by baking can be preserved longer.