辈

輩

bèi

车 + 非

Definitions

bèi (noun) generation

bèi (noun) group; class of people

bèi (noun) lifetime

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "large group of chariots". The meaning later shifted to "group of things" and "generation". Simplified form of 輩.

Semantic: 车 Phonetic: 非

About

The traditional form 輩 places the carriage radical 車 beneath the phonetic component 非 (fēi), while the simplified 辈 swaps 車 for the shorthand 车. Originally, the character designated a large group or a row of chariots. This concrete image of items arranged in sequence then broadened to any group or series of things. Over time, the meaning shifted to human categories, giving the modern senses of a generation, a cohort of people with shared characteristics, or the full span of a lifetime.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我一辈子都住在这里。

Wǒ yībèizi dōu zhù zài zhèlǐ.

I have lived here all my life.

前辈的经验很宝贵。

Qiánbèi de jīngyàn hěn bǎoguì.

The experience of seniors is very valuable.

我们家的辈分很清晰。

Wǒmen jiā de bèifen hěn qīngxī.

The seniority in our family is very clear.

我和他是同辈人。

Wǒ hé tā shì tóngbèi rén.

He and I are of the same generation.

晚辈应该尊敬长辈。

Wǎnbèi yīnggāi zūnjìng zhǎngbèi.

The younger generation should respect the elders.

这个时代人才辈出。

Zhège shídài réncái bèichū.

This era sees a large number of talented people emerging.

祖辈的传统不能忘记。

Zǔbèi de chuántǒng bùnéng wàngjì.

The traditions of ancestors cannot be forgotten.

在家族中，他的辈分极高，许多同辈人都对他十分尊敬。

Zài jiāzú zhōng, tā de bèifen jí gāo, xǔduō tóngbèi rén dōu duì tā shífēn zūnjìng.

In the family clan, his seniority is very high, and many peers respect him greatly.

Related Characters

Component: 车

Component: 非

辈