What does 比 mean in Chinese?

比 (bǐ) means "to compare" in Chinese. The new HSK exam expects you to recognise it at HSK 2.

How do you write 比?

比 is written with 4 strokes, starting from the 比 (compare) radical and following standard Chinese stroke order (top to bottom, left to right). See the interactive stroke-order tool for the full animation.

What is the radical of 比?

The radical of 比 is 比 (compare, Kangxi radical #81).

How many strokes does 比 have?

The Chinese character 比 has 4 strokes.

What HSK level is 比?

On the new HSK exam syllabus, 比 is a character to recognise at HSK 2 and to write by hand at HSK 2 (the handwriting list HSK 1 and 2 share).

比 (bǐ): Meaning, Stroke Order, Radical & Examples

比

bǐ

to compare

HSK 2 character 4 strokes Radical: 比 (compare)

Quick Answer

比 (bǐ) means "to compare" with 4 strokes, radical 比 (compare), HSK 2 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 比 →Animated stroke-order for 比 →

Pronunciation

bǐ

Meaning

Primary: to compare

Etymology

Oracle-bone origin

The oracle-bone form shows two people standing side by side, both facing the same direction. It is visually almost identical to 从 (two people, one behind the other) except for orientation, and the two characters were originally a matched pair distinguishing 'following' from 'standing alongside'.

Form evolution

Bronze and seal forms kept the two-figure shape clearly, with each figure drawn as a curved standing person. The clerical script flattened the curves into the two 匕-like components seen today, and the modern kaishu 比 is simply a regularised pairing of those two elements. The shape has changed a lot graphically but the two-figures-side-by-side logic is still visible once pointed out.

How the meaning evolved

The original sense 'stand next to, be alongside' extended naturally into 'compare, match against', since comparing things means placing them side by side. From there it picked up senses like 'a ratio', 'than' in comparative constructions, and the grammatical particle used in 比较 and A 比 B structures. The older 'alongside' meaning survives mainly in literary compounds.

Cultural note

Learners often confuse 比 with 北 and 此 because all three contain 匕-like shapes, but only 比 is historically two people. The compound 比邻 ('close neighbour') preserves the ancient 'side by side' sense.

Mnemonic

Two people side by side — to compare

Basic info

Pinyin	bǐ
Meanings	to compare
Stroke count	4 strokes
Radical	比 (#81: compare)
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 2, write by hand at HSK 1-2
Frequency	#102 most common

Example sentences

他比我高很多。
Tā bǐ wǒ gāo hěn duō.
He is much taller than me.
From 比 (HSK 2)
今天比较冷。
Jīntiān bǐjiào lěng.
It's relatively cold today.
From 比较 (HSK 3)
明天有足球比赛。
Míngtiān yǒu zúqiú bǐsài.
There's a soccer match tomorrow.
From 比赛 (HSK 3)

Words containing 比

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
比	bǐ	to compare	HSK 2
比赛	bǐsài	competition	HSK 3
比较	bǐjiào	relatively	HSK 3
比如	bǐrú	such as	HSK 3
比例	bǐlì	Proportion	HSK 5
对比	duìbǐ	Contrast	HSK 5
比分	bǐfēn	score	HSK 5
比方	bǐfang	analogy, instance	HSK 6
比拟	bǐnǐ	to compare, to draw a parallel
比喻	bǐyù	metaphor, to compare	HSK 5
比重	bǐzhòng	proportion, specific gravity	HSK 6

Related characters

Don't confuse with

北

比 (bǐ) ≠ 北 (běi), north

此

比 (bǐ) ≠ 此 (cǐ), this

Similar meaning (action)

出to go out 动to move 打to hit 到to arrive 作to do 放to put 过to pass 学to study

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 比 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.