憋 biē to stifle
to stifle; to restrain; to choke; to hold back; to hold in
How to remember 憋: 敝 worn out + 心 heart = to stifle. On the worn out church bench that creaks loudly, the girl feels a laugh rise from her heart and bites her lip to stifle it.
Component breakdown
憋 = 敝 worn out + 心 heart
- 敝 worn out
- 心 heart
On the worn out church bench that creaks loudly, the girl feels a laugh rise from her heart and bites her lip to stifle it.
How it is used
- To hold in / suppress: 憋气 (biēqì) to hold one's breath, or to feel stifled/frustrated; 憋尿 (biē niào) to hold in one's pee; 憋住 (biēzhù) to hold back (laughter, tears).
- 憋屈 (biēqu) = feeling wronged and bottled up; 憋了一肚子话 (biēle yí dùzi huà) with a bellyful of things left unsaid.