Definitions
(noun)
shellfish; shell (used as currency in ancient times)
Etymology
Simplified form of 貝. Pictograph of a cowrie shell. In ancient China such shells were used as currency.
About
The character "贝" originates from a pictographic representation of a seashell, with its traditional form "貝" retaining an abstract outline reminiscent of a bivalve shell. Initially denoting the physical shell itself, it acquired the meaning of currency due to the historical use of shells as a medium of exchange, which led to its semantic extension into concepts of wealth and value. This association caused it to become a frequent semantic component in characters related to finance, trade, and precious items. Structurally, the traditional character is built from strokes that suggest a shell's form, while the simplified "贝" reduces these to a more streamlined configuration. Over time, its primary meaning shifted from a concrete object to encompass abstract economic ideas, though it still refers to shellfish in biological contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有一个大贝壳。
我收藏了许多贝壳。
我在海边捡贝壳。
这个宝贝真可爱。
午餐我们吃蒜蓉扇贝。
这些贝类非常新鲜。
我买了一顶新贝雷帽。
他很擅长弹奏贝斯。