⽐

See also: 此, and 北

比 U+6BD4, 比 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6BD4 ← 毓 [U+6BD3] CJK Unified Ideographs 毕 → [U+6BD5]

⽐ U+2F50, ⽐ KANGXI RADICAL COMPARE ← ⽏ [U+2F4F] Kangxi Radicals ⽑ → [U+2F51]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

See images of
Radical 81 比

比 (Kangxi radical 81, 比+0, 4 strokes, cangjie input 心心 (PP), four-corner 2171₀, composition ⿰⿺𠄌一匕(GHT) or ⿻𠃏⿰一一(GHT) or ⿰⿱⺊㇀匕(JKV))

1. Kangxi radical #81, ⽐.

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/比
• 仳, 吡, 㘩, 妣, 𫵏, 𢁦, 𢗽, 批, 沘, 𤜻, 阰, 𣅪, 枇, 𤘥, 玭, 肶, 䃾, 𤽊, 䀝, 𥎬, 砒, 秕, 𧘱, 粃, 紕(纰), 𬙌, 舭, 蚍, 𫋪, 𭙂, 䚹, 豼, 𧺲, 𧿥, 𨈚, 𬧱, 𨟵, 鈚(𬬫), 䩃, 𩉫, 𩨨, 魮, 𬸲, 𪌈, 𭻦
• 𠨒, 𨚍, 㩺, 𢻹, 𣢋, 𤿎, 𫖝, 𩲖, 𫚰, 坒, 𡗬, 𡛗, 𪫠, 𣅜, 枈, 毞, 𤘤, 皆, 㿫, 𭆛, 粊, 䘡, 𧣅, 𨋅, 𪟫, 𧔻
• 𬼚, 芘, 昆, 𤽏, 𥤻, 𦊁, 笓, 萞, 琵, 𩬈, 箆, 𠨽, 屁, 庇, 疪, 鹿, 䴡

Descendants

• ひ (Hiragana character derived from Man'yōgana)
• ヒ (Katakana character derived from Man'yōgana)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 590, character 9
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 16743
• Dae Jaweon: page 982, character 4
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1415, character 8
• Unihan data for U+6BD4

Chinese

trad.		比
simp. #		比
alternative forms		夶 ancient

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 比
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)		Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Ancient script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

	Old Chinese
梐	*piː, *biːʔ
狴	*piː
悂	*piː, *pʰi
螕	*piː
鎞	*piː
蓖	*piː
篦	*piː, *bis
批	*pʰiː
砒	*pʰiː
鈚	*pʰiː, *bi
磇	*pʰiː
媲	*pʰiːs
笓	*biː
膍	*biː, *bi
陛	*biːʔ
仳	*pʰeʔ, *piʔ, *bi, *briʔ
吡	*pʰeʔ, *piʔ, *biɡ
紕	*be, *pʰi, *kʰjɯʔ
比	*piʔ, *pis, *bi, *bis, *biɡ
妣	*piʔ, *pis
秕	*piʔ
沘	*piʔ, *bi
枇	*piʔ, *bi, *bis
粊	*pris
庇	*pis
屁	*pʰis
琵	*bi
毗	*bi
貔	*bi
豼	*bi
蚍	*bi
芘	*bi, *bis
肶	*bi
魮	*bi
阰	*bi
坒	*bis, *biɡ
玭	*bin

Characters in the same phonetic series (比) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 人 (“man”) + 人 – to juxtapose. Similar but unrelated to 从, 尼, 化 and 北.

Etymology

Perhaps from a Proto-Sino-Tibetan *phi-r/n/s (“late, behind, after, outside”) (STEDT root #5883). Cognate with 頻 (OC *bin, “several in succession”); outside of Sinitic, compare Proto-Naga *pʰaːy (“after”), as well as possibly Burmese ပြင် (prang, “outside”).

Pronunciation 1

Variety	Location	edit 比
Mandarin	Beijing	/pi²¹⁴/
	Harbin	/pi²¹³/ /pʰi²¹³/
	Tianjin	/pi¹³/
	Jinan	/pi⁵⁵/
	Qingdao	/pi⁵⁵/
	Zhengzhou	/pi⁵³/
	Xi'an	/pi⁵³/
	Xining	/pji⁵³/
	Yinchuan	/pi⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/pi⁴⁴²/
	Ürümqi	/pi⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/pi⁴²/
	Chengdu	/pi⁵³/
	Guiyang	/pi⁴²/
	Kunming	/pi⁵³/
	Nanjing	/pi²¹²/
	Hefei	/pz̩²⁴/
Jin	Taiyuan	/pi⁵³/
	Pingyao	/pi⁵³/
	Hohhot	/pi⁵³/
Wu	Shanghai	/pi³⁵/
	Suzhou	/pi⁵¹/
	Hangzhou	/pi⁵³/
	Wenzhou	/pei³⁵/
Hui	Shexian	/pi³⁵/
	Tunxi	/pi³¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/pi⁴¹/
	Xiangtan	/pi⁴²/
Gan	Nanchang	/pi²¹³/
Hakka	Meixian	/pi³¹/
	Taoyuan	/pi³¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/pei³⁵/
	Nanning	/pi³⁵/
	Hong Kong	/pei³⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/pi⁵³/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/pi³²/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/pi²¹/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/pi⁵³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/ʔbi²¹³/

Rime
Character	比
Reading #	2/5
Initial (聲)	幫 (1)
Final (韻)	脂 (15)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	卑履切
Baxter	pjijX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/piɪX/
Pan Wuyun	/piX/
Shao Rongfen	/pjɪX/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/piX/
Li Rong	/piX/
Wang Li	/piX/
Bernhard Karlgren	/piX/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	bǐ
Expected Cantonese Reflex	bei2

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	比
Reading #	1/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	bǐ
Middle Chinese	‹ pjijX ›
Old Chinese	/*C.pijʔ/
English	compare
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	比
Reading #	1/5
No.	511
Phonetic component	比
Rime group	脂
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	匕
Old Chinese	/*piʔ/

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): bǐ (bi³)

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄧˇ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): bi³

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): би (bi, II)

• Cantonese (Jyutping): bei²
• Gan (Wiktionary): bi³
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): pí

  (Meixian, Guangdong): bi³

• Jin (Wiktionary): bi²
• Northern Min (KCR): bǐ
• Eastern Min (BUC): bī
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): pí

  (Teochew, Peng'im): bi²

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁵pi / ³pi
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): bi³

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bǐ
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄧˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bǐ
    • Wade–Giles: pi³
    • Yale: bǐ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bii
    • Palladius: би (bi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi²¹⁴/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: bi³
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: bi
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁵³/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: би (bi, II)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁵¹/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: bei²
    • Yale: béi
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bei²
    • Guangdong Romanization: béi²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pei̯³⁵/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: bi³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi²¹³/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: pí
    • Hakka Romanization System: bi^ˋ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: bi³
    • Sinological IPA: /pi³¹/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: bi³
    • Sinological IPA: /pi³¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: bi²
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /pi⁵³/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: bǐ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: bī
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi³³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pí
    • Tâi-lô: pí
    • Phofsit Daibuun: pie
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /pi⁵⁵⁴/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Taipei): /pi⁵³/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /pi⁴¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: bi²
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: pí
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁵²/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁵pi
    • MiniDict: pi^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²pi
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /pi³⁴/
  • (Northern: Suzhou, Hangzhou)
    • Wugniu: ³pi
    • MiniDict: pi^上
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /pi⁵¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /pi⁵³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: bi³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁴¹/

---

• Dialectal data

---

• Middle Chinese: pjijX

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*C.pijʔ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*piʔ/

Definitions

比

1. to compare; to contrast; to have a contest

   相比  ―  xiàngbǐ  ―  to compare

   比武  ―  bǐwǔ  ―  contest in martial arts skill

   別拿我跟別人比。 [MSC, trad.]
   别拿我跟别人比。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bié ná wǒ gēn biérén bǐ. [Pinyin]

   Don't compare me to others.

   我們倆比一比，看誰跑得快！ [MSC, trad.]
   我们俩比一比，看谁跑得快！ [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen liǎ bǐ yī bǐ, kàn shéi pǎo de kuài! [Pinyin]

   We shall have a race to see who runs faster!

   比上不足，比下有餘 [MSC, trad.]
   比上不足，比下有余 [MSC, simp.]

   bǐ shàng bùzú, bǐ xià yǒu yú [Pinyin]

   to fall short of the best but be better than the worst

2. to liken; to draw an analogy to

   我們常把人生比作馬拉松。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们常把人生比作马拉松。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen cháng bǎ rénshēng bǐzuò mǎlāsōng. [Pinyin]

   We always liken life to a marathon race.

   • 如果把蒙古族文化比作草原，那蒙古族服飾就是這片草原上最美的花朵。 [MSC, trad.]
     如果把蒙古族文化比作草原，那蒙古族服饰就是这片草原上最美的花朵。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 李振南 (2018 August 23) “融入生活是最好的传承”, in People's Daily (in Chinese), page 5

     Rúguǒ bǎ ménggǔzú wénhuà bǐzuò cǎoyuán, nà ménggǔzú fúshì jiùshì zhèpiàn cǎoyuán shàng zuì měi de huāduǒ. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

3. to emulate; to copy; to imitate
4. to match; to be equal

   比得上  ―  bǐdéshàng  ―  to compare favourably with

   今非昔比  ―  jīnfēixībǐ  ―  to no longer be what one was before (literally, “the present cannot compare with the past”)

   • 對於一名身邊没有親人陪伴的重症患者來說，再多的言語安慰也比不上手與手的相握。 [MSC, trad.]
     对于一名身边没有亲人陪伴的重症患者来说，再多的言语安慰也比不上手与手的相握。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 程煥 (2020 September 5) “白衣战士，用生命守护生命——记抗疫中的医务工作者”, in People's Daily (in Chinese), page 4

     Duìyú yīmíng shēnbiān méiyǒu qīnrén péibàn de zhòngzhèng huànzhě lái shuō, zài duō de yányǔ ānwèi yě bǐbùshàng shǒu yǔ shǒu de xiàng wò. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

5. to be the ratio of; ... to ...

   一比三  ―  yī bǐ sān  ―  1:3

6. indicating the score of a match

   現在幾比幾？／现在几比几？  ―  Xiànzài jǐ bǐ jǐ?  ―  What's the score now?

   甲隊以一比二敗給乙隊。 [MSC, trad.]
   甲队以一比二败给乙队。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiǎ duì yǐ yī bǐ èr bài gěi yǐ duì. [Pinyin]

   Team 甲 lost to team 乙 by 1 to 2.

7. to gesticulate; to gesture

   連說帶比／连说带比  ―  lián shuō dài bǐ  ―  to gesticulate as one talks

   比手畫腳／比手画脚  ―  bǐshǒuhuàjiǎo  ―  to illustrate with the help of gestures

8. metaphor; analogy
9. ratio; proportion

   師生比／师生比  ―  shīshēng bǐ  ―  teacher-student ratio

   性價比／性价比  ―  xìngjiàbǐ  ―  price–performance ratio

10. than; more ... than; -er compared to

    她比我高。  ―  Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.  ―  She is taller than me.

    今年夏天比去年熱多了。 [MSC, trad.]
    今年夏天比去年热多了。 [MSC, simp.]

    Jīnnián xiàtiān bǐ qùnián rè duō le. [Pinyin]

    This summer is much hotter than the last one

    我妹妹比我小三歲。 [MSC, trad.]
    我妹妹比我小三岁。 [MSC, simp.]

    Wǒ mèimèi bǐ wǒ xiǎo sān suì. [Pinyin]

    My sister is 3 years younger than me.

    • 耶和華神對蛇說，你既作了這事，就必受咒詛，比一切的牲畜野獸更甚。 [MSC, trad.]
      耶和华神对蛇说，你既作了这事，就必受咒诅，比一切的牲畜野兽更甚。 [MSC, simp.]

      Yēhéhuá shén duì shé shuō, nǐ jì zuò le zhè shì, jiù bì shòu zhòuzǔ, bǐ yīqiè de shēngchù yěshòu gèng shèn. [Pinyin]

      The Lord God said unto the serpent: “Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field.”

    • 過番个人有處講　比咱唐山恰重難 [Hokkien, trad.]
      过番个人有处讲　比咱唐山恰重难 [Hokkien, simp.]

      From: 1916, 最新番平歌, page 1

      kè-hoan ê lâng ū tè káng, pí lán Tn̂g-soaⁿ khah tiōng-lân [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

      Those who have gone abroad are saying that it is more difficult than in our China

11. Used in transcription.

    莫三比克  ―  Mòsānbǐkè  ―  Mozambique

    英屬哥倫比亞／英属哥伦比亚  ―  Yīngshǔ Gēlúnbǐyà  ―  British Columbia

    比什凱克／比什凯克  ―  Bǐshénkǎikè  ―  Bishkek

    比薩／比萨  ―  bǐsà  ―  pizza

    史諾比／史诺比  ―  Shǐnuòbǐ  ―  Snoopy

    比卡超 [Cantonese]  ―  bei² kaa¹ ciu¹ [Jyutping]  ―  Pikachu

    1. Short for 比利時／比利时 (Bǐlìshí, “Belgium”).

       比屬剛果／比属刚果  ―  Bǐshǔ Gāngguǒ  ―  Belgian Congo

       比荷盧／比荷卢  ―  Bǐhélú  ―  Benelux

Compounds

• 三乘比
• 三比西河
• 不成比例 (bùchéngbǐlì)
• 不比 (bùbǐ)
• 不比尋常／不比寻常
• 五比丘
• 人比人，氣死人／人比人，气死人 (rén bǐ rén, qì sǐ rén)
• 今非昔比 (jīnfēixībǐ)
• 來比錫／来比锡
• 倫比／伦比 (lúnbǐ)
• 倍比定律
• 傳動比／传动比
• 價比／价比
• 優比／优比
• 兩兩相比／两两相比
• 公案比語／公案比语
• 公比 (gōngbǐ)
• 其樂無比／其乐无比
• 利比亞／利比亚 (Lìbǐyà)
• 加勒比海 (Jiālèbǐ Hǎi)
• 功率比
• 劣比
• 反比 (fǎnbǐ)
• 反比例 (fǎnbǐlì)
• 史奴比 (Shǐnúbǐ)
• 可比 (kěbǐ)
• 哥倫比亞／哥伦比亚 (Gēlúnbǐyà)
• 壽比南山／寿比南山 (shòubǐnánshān)
• 大比
• 大比之年
• 大比之期
• 奇大無比／奇大无比
• 奧林比亞／奥林比亚
• 好比 (hǎobǐ)
• 完全比賽／完全比赛
• 富比王侯
• 富比陶衛／富比陶卫
• 將心比心／将心比心 (jiāngxīnbǐxīn)
• 對比／对比 (duìbǐ)
• 對比色／对比色
• 尚比亞／尚比亚 (Shàngbǐyà)
• 屬辭比事／属辞比事
• 岡比亞／冈比亚 (Gāngbǐyà)
• 巨大無比／巨大无比 (jùdàwúbǐ)
• 巴比倫／巴比伦 (Bābǐlún)
• 龐大無比／庞大无比
• 戈比 (gēbǐ)
• 打比 (dǎbǐ)
• 拉比 (lābǐ)
• 按分比例
• 排比 (páibǐ)
• 攀今比昔
• 方比
• 本利比
• 本益比
• 朱比特 (Zhūbǐtè)
• 案比
• 正比 (zhèngbǐ)
• 正比例 (zhèngbǐlì)
• 比不上 (bǐbùshàng)
• 比不了
• 比不得
• 比丘 (bǐqiū)
• 比丘尼 (bǐqiūní)
• 比並／比并
• 比仿
• 比似
• 比例 (bǐlì)
• 比例尺 (bǐlìchǐ)
• 比值 (bǐzhí)
• 比個高下／比个高下
• 比個高低／比个高低
• 比價／比价 (bǐjià)
• 比先
• 比先時／比先时
• 比兒／比儿
• 比利時／比利时 (Bǐlìshí)
• 比劃／比划
• 比勢／比势
• 比卯
• 比合
• 比喻 (bǐyù)
• 比喻義／比喻义 (bǐyùyì)
• 比基尼 (bǐjīní)
• 比基尼島／比基尼岛
• 比壽／比寿
• 比如 (bǐrú)
• 比對／比对 (bǐduì)
• 比度
• 比張比李／比张比李
• 比心 (bǐxīn)
• 比手勢／比手势
• 比手式
• 比手畫腳／比手画脚 (bǐshǒuhuàjiǎo)
• 比擬／比拟 (bǐnǐ)
• 比數／比数 (bǐshù)
• 比方
• 比方說／比方说
• 比時／比时
• 比景
• 比校
• 比權量力／比权量力
• 比武 (bǐwǔ)
• 比武招親／比武招亲
• 比況／比况
• 比照 (bǐzhào)
• 比物
• 比物連類／比物连类
• 比率 (bǐlǜ)
• 比甲
• 比目 (bǐmù)
• 比目連枝／比目连枝
• 比目魚／比目鱼 (bǐmùyú)
• 比眾不同／比众不同
• 比箭掄拳／比箭抡拳
• 比索 (bǐsuǒ)
• 比翼 (bǐyì)
• 比翼連枝／比翼连枝
• 比翼雙飛／比翼双飞 (bǐyìshuāngfēi)
• 比翼鳥／比翼鸟 (bǐyìniǎo)
• 比興／比兴 (bǐxìng)
• 比薩／比萨 (bǐsà)
• 比薩斜塔／比萨斜塔 (Bǐsà Xiétǎ)
• 比西巴格 (Bǐxībāgé)
• 比試／比试 (bǐshì)
• 比語／比语
• 比象
• 比賽／比赛 (bǐsài)
• 比跡／比迹
• 比較／比较
• 比較文學／比较文学 (bǐjiào wénxué)
• 比較美學／比较美学
• 比輯／比辑
• 比邱
• 比部
• 比配 (bǐpèi)
• 比重 (bǐzhòng)
• 比重計／比重计
• 比量 (bǐliang)
• 比量齊觀／比量齐观
• 比附 (bǐfù)
• 比顯興隱／比显兴隐
• 比高
• 氨基比林
• 油氣比／油气比
• 流動比率／流动比率
• 混合比
• 渾不比／浑不比
• 演講比賽／演讲比赛
• 無可比擬／无可比拟 (wúkěbǐnǐ)
• 無可比象／无可比象
• 無比／无比 (wúbǐ)
• 無與倫比／无与伦比 (wúyǔlúnbǐ)
• 無與為比／无与为比
• 甘比亞／甘比亚 (Gānbǐyà)
• 百分比 (bǎifēnbǐ)
• 盧比／卢比 (lúbǐ)
• 相比 (xiāngbǐ)
• 等比 (děngbǐ)
• 舉世無比／举世无比
• 舉世莫比／举世莫比
• 莫三比克 (Mòsānbǐkè)
• 莫比
• 衣索比亞／衣索比亚 (Yīsuǒbǐyà)
• 複比／复比
• 評比／评比 (píngbǐ)
• 賦比興／赋比兴 (fùbǐxìng)
• 賴比瑞亞／赖比瑞亚 (Làibǐruìyà)
• 跳躍比賽／跳跃比赛
• 速動比率／速动比率
• 連枝比翼／连枝比翼
• 連比／连比
• 連類比物／连类比物
• 那密比亞／那密比亚
• 邱比特 (Qiūbǐtè)
• 配分比例
• 重比
• 阿布達比／阿布达比 (Ābù Dábǐ)
• 阿比
• 隱比／隐比
• 非比尋常／非比寻常
• 類比／类比 (lèibǐ)
• 類比信號／类比信号
• 類比唱片／类比唱片
• 類比電腦／类比电脑
• 龍舟比賽／龙舟比赛

 

Pronunciation 2

Rime
Character	比	比
Reading #	3/5	4/5
Initial (聲)	並 (3)	幫 (1)
Final (韻)	脂 (15)	脂 (15)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	III
Fanqie	毗至切	必至切
Baxter	bjijH	pjijH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/biɪH/	/piɪH/
Pan Wuyun	/biH/	/piH/
Shao Rongfen	/bjɪH/	/pjɪH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/biH/	/piH/
Li Rong	/biH/	/piH/
Wang Li	/biH/	/piH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/bʱiH/	/piH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	bì	bì
Expected Cantonese Reflex	bei6	bei3

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	比
Reading #	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	bì
Middle Chinese	‹ pjijH ›
Old Chinese	/*pij-s/
English	combine; all
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	比	比
Reading #	4/5	2/5
No.	542	521
Phonetic component	比	比
Rime group	脂	脂
Rime subdivision	2	2
Corresponding MC rime	鼻	痹
Old Chinese	/*bis/	/*pis/

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): bǐ, bì

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄧˇ, ㄅㄧˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): bei⁶ / bei³
• Eastern Min (BUC): bê

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese, Mainland)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bǐ
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄧˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bǐ
    • Wade–Giles: pi³
    • Yale: bǐ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bii
    • Palladius: би (bi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi²¹⁴/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, Taiwan)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bì
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄧˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bì
    • Wade–Giles: pi⁴
    • Yale: bì
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bih
    • Palladius: би (bi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: bei⁶ / bei³
    • Yale: beih / bei
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bei⁶ / bei³
    • Guangdong Romanization: béi⁶ / béi³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pei̯²²/, /pei̯³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: bê
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pɛi²⁴²/

---

• Middle Chinese: bjijH, pjijH

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*pij-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*bis/, /*pis/

Definitions

比

1. to be next to; to be near to; to stand close together; to lie next to
2. to cling to; to collude with
3. intimate; close; friendly
4. dense; closely packed
5. harmonious; melodious
6. all; completely
7. lately; recently
8. frequently; repeatedly
9. until; till
10. eighth hexagram of the I Ching

Compounds

• 周而不比
• 接踵比肩 (jiēzhǒngbǐjiān)
• 昵比
• 朋比 (péngbǐ)
• 朋比作仇
• 朋比作奸
• 朋比為奸 (péngbǐwéijiān)
• 朋黨比周／朋党比周
• 櫛次鱗比／栉次鳞比
• 櫛比／栉比 (zhìbǐ)
• 櫛比鱗差／栉比鳞差
• 櫛比鱗次／栉比鳞次 (zhìbǐlíncì)
• 歲比不登／岁比不登
• 比來／比来 (bǐlái)
• 比及
• 比周
• 比屋
• 比屋可封
• 比屋而封
• 比屋而誅／比屋而诛
• 比年 (bǐnián)
• 比年不登
• 比捕
• 比歲／比岁 (bǐsuì)
• 比歲不登／比岁不登
• 比比 (bǐbǐ)
• 比比皆是 (bǐbǐjiēshì)
• 比比皆然
• 比肩 (bǐjiān)
• 比肩人
• 比肩皆是
• 比肩繼踵／比肩继踵 (bǐjiānjìzhǒng)
• 比肩而事
• 比肩而立 (bǐjiān'érlì)
• 比肩隨踵／比肩随踵 (bǐjiānsuízhǒng)
• 比至
• 比舍
• 比親／比亲
• 比蹤／比踪
• 比鄰／比邻 (bǐlín)
• 比鄰而居／比邻而居
• 肩相比
• 鄰比／邻比 (línbì)
• 駢比／骈比
• 鱗次櫛比／鳞次栉比 (líncìzhìbǐ)
• 鱗比／鳞比

 

Pronunciation 3

Rime
Character	比
Reading #	1/5
Initial (聲)	並 (3)
Final (韻)	脂 (15)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	房脂切
Baxter	bjij
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/biɪ/
Pan Wuyun	/bi/
Shao Rongfen	/bjɪ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/bi/
Li Rong	/bi/
Wang Li	/bi/
Bernhard Karlgren	/bʱi/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	pí
Expected Cantonese Reflex	pei4

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	比
Reading #	3/5
No.	531
Phonetic component	比
Rime group	脂
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	𣬈
Old Chinese	/*bi/

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): pí (pi²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄆㄧˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): pei⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: pí
    • Zhuyin: ㄆㄧˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: pí
    • Wade–Giles: pʻi²
    • Yale: pí
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: pyi
    • Palladius: пи (pi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰi³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: pei⁴
    • Yale: pèih
    • Cantonese Pinyin: pei⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: péi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰei̯²¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: bjij

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*bi/

Definitions

比

1. ^† Used in 比蒲 (“placename”).
2. ^† Used in 皋比 (gāopí, “tiger skin”).
3. ^† Used in 師比／师比 (shīpí, “ancient belt hook”).

Compounds

• 師比／师比 (shīpí)
• 比蒲
• 皋比 (gāopí)

 

Pronunciation 4

Rime
Character	比
Reading #	5/5
Initial (聲)	並 (3)
Final (韻)	質 (48)
Tone (調)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	毗必切
Baxter	bjit
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/biɪt̚/
Pan Wuyun	/bit̚/
Shao Rongfen	/bjet̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/bit̚/
Li Rong	/biĕt̚/
Wang Li	/bĭĕt̚/
Bernhard Karlgren	/bʱi̯ĕt̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	bí
Expected Cantonese Reflex	bat6

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	比
Reading #	5/5
No.	547
Phonetic component	比
Rime group	質
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	邲
Old Chinese	/*biɡ/

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): bì (bi⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄧˋ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bì
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄧˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bì
    • Wade–Giles: pi⁴
    • Yale: bì
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bih
    • Palladius: би (bi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi⁵¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: bjit

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*biɡ/

Definitions

比

1. ^† close; near
2. ^† dense; closely packed

Pronunciation 5

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): pǐ (pi³)

  (Zhuyin): ㄆㄧˇ

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: pǐ
    • Zhuyin: ㄆㄧˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: pǐ
    • Wade–Giles: pʻi³
    • Yale: pǐ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: pii
    • Palladius: пи (pi)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰi²¹⁴/

Definitions

比

1. ^† Alternative form of 庀 (pǐ, “to have; to possess”)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): bei²

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: bei²
    • Yale: béi
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bei²
    • Guangdong Romanization: béi²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pei̯³⁵/

Definitions

比

1. (Cantonese, colloquial) Alternative form of 畀

Japanese

Kanji

See also:

Category:Japanese terms spelled with 比

比

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: ひ (hi, Jōyō)、び (bi)
• Kan-on: ひ (hi, Jōyō)
• Kun: くらべる (kuraberu, 比べる, Jōyō)、ころ (koro, 比)、たぐい (tagui, 比い)^{←たぐひ (tagufi, 比ひ, historical)}
• Nanori: これ (kore)、たか (taka)、たすく (tasuku)、ちか (chika)、つね (tsune)、とも (tomo)、なみ (nami)、ひさ (hisa)

Compounds

Compounds

• 比(ころ)おい (korooi)
• 比(ひ)叡(えい)山(ざん) (Hieizan)
• 比丘(びく) (biku)
• 比丘尼(びくに) (bikuni)
• 比目魚(ヒラメ) (hirame)
• 比律賓(フィリッピン) (Firippin)
• 亜剌比亜(アラビア) (Arabia)
• 恵(え)比(び)寿(す), 恵(え)比(び)須(す) (Ebisu)
• 甲(カ)比(ピ)丹(タン) (kapitan)
• 金(こん)比(ぴ)羅(ら) (Konpira)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
比
ひ Grade: 5
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
譬 (compare)

• (ratio, compare, equal, match): from Middle Chinese 比 (MC pjijX).
• (eighth hexagram of the I Ching): from Middle Chinese 比 (MC pjijH) or 比 (MC bjijH).
• (Philippines): short form of the ateji (当て字) spelling 比律賓(フィリピン) (Firipin).

Noun

比(ひ) • (hi) 

1. a ratio

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 比(ひ)する (hisuru)
• 比(ひ)抵(てい)抗(こう) (hiteikō)
• 比(ひ)電(でん)荷(か) (hidenka)
• 比(ひ)誘(ゆう)電(でん)率(りつ) (hiyūdenritsu)
• アスペクト比(ひ) (asupekuto-hi)
• 間(かん)隙(げき)比(ひ) (kangekihi)
• 空(くう)燃(ねん)比(ひ) (kūnenhi)
• 口(こう)径(けい)比(ひ) (kōkeihi)
• 構(こう)成(せい)比(ひ) (kōseihi)
• 三(さん)角(かく)比(ひ) (sankakuhi)
• 消(しょう)光(こう)比(ひ) (shōkōhi)
• 縦(しゅう)横(おう)比(ひ) (shūōhi)
• 信(しん)号(ごう)雑(ざつ)音(おん)比(ひ) (shingō-zatsuon-hi)
• 静(せい)圧(あつ)比(ひ) (seiatsuhi)
• 整(せい)数(すう)比(ひ) (seisūhi)
• 千(せん)分(ぶん)比(ひ) (senbunhi)
• 前(ぜん)年(ねん)比(ひ) (zennenhi)
• 相(そう)似(じ)比(ひ) (sōjihi)
• 男(だん)女(じょ)比(ひ) (danjohi)
• 直(ちょっ)間(かん)比(ひり)率(つ) (chokkan-hiritsu)
• 当(とう)社(しゃ)比(ひ) (tōshahi)
• 百(ひゃく)分(ぶん)比(ひ) (hyakubunhi)
• 揚(よう)抗(こう)比(ひ) (yōkōhi)
• 容(よう)積(せき)比(ひ) (yōsekihi)

Idioms

• 比(ひ)を求(もと)める (hi o motomeru)
• 比(ひ)を見(み)ない (hi o minai)

Affix

比(ひ) • (hi) 

1. comparison, match, equal
2. ratio
3. Short for フィリピン (Firipin): the Philippines

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 比(ひ)価(か) (hika)
• 比(ひ)較(かく) (hikaku)
• 比(ひ)況(きょう) (hikyō)
• 比(ひ)肩(けん) (hiken)
• 比(ひ)重(じゅう) (hijū)
• 比(ひ)島(とう) (Hitō)
• 比(ひ)日(にち) (Hi-Nichi)
• 比(ひ)熱(べつ) (hibetsu)
• 比(ひ)喩(ゆ) (hiyu)
• 比(ひ)諭(ゆ) (hiyu)
• 比(ひ)翼(よく) (hiyoku)
• 比(ひ)率(りつ) (hiritsu)
• 比(ひ)倫(りん) (hirin)
• 比(ひ)隣(りん) (hirin)
• 比(ひ)類(るい) (hirui)
• 比(ひ)例(れい) (hirei)
• 阿(あ)比(び) (abi)
• 逆(ぎゃく)比(ひ) (gyakuhi)
• 櫛(しっ)比(ぴ) (shippi)
• 正(せい)比(ひ) (seihi)
• 性(せい)比(ひ) (seihi)
• 対(たい)比(ひ) (taihi)
• 単(たん)比(ぴ) (tanpi)
• 定(てい)比(ひ) (teihi)
• 渡(と)比(ひ) (tohi)
• 等(とう)比(ひ) (tōhi)
• 日(にち)比(ひ) (Nichi-Hi)
• 反(はん)比(ぴ) (hanpi)
• 複(ふく)比(ひ) (fukuhi)
• 訪(ほう)比(ひ) (hōhi)
• 無(む)比(ひ) (muhi)
• 類(るい)比(ひ) (ruihi)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
比
ころ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 比 – see the following entry: ころ

(The following entry is uncreated: ころ.)

Korean

Hanja

比 (eumhun 견줄 비 (gyeonjul bi))

1. hanja form^? of 비 (“comparison”)

Vietnamese

Han character

比: Hán Nôm readings: tỉ, tị, tí, Bỉ

1. chữ Hán form of tỉ (“compare”).
2. chữ Hán form of Bỉ (“Belgium (a country in Western Europe that has borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France)”).

Compounds

• 有比 (hữu tỉ)
• 比例 (tỉ lệ)
• 比例尺 (tỉ lệ xích)
• 比價 (tỉ giá)
• 比喻 (tỉ dụ)
• 比數 (tỉ số)
• 比試 (tỉ thí)
• 比重 (tỉ trọng)
• 無比 (vô tỉ)