贝 bèi sea shell
sea shell; money
How it came to be
The full form is a small sea shell held open, the two feelers coming out at the bottom. Shells were money before coins were, which is why it is in these characters.
How it is used
- Shell; and because cowrie shells were early money, it's the radical in many wealth/trade characters (财, 购, 贵).
- 贝壳 (bèiké) = seashell. 宝贝 (bǎobèi) literally 'treasure-shell' means a treasured thing, or a term of endearment: 'baby/darling'.
- As a term of address, 宝贝 is affectionate toward children or a partner, like English 'sweetie'.
Characters built with 贝
- 贵 expensive
- 员 member
- 赛 compete
- 绩 achievement
- 资 wealth
- 则 rule
- 质 essence
- 费 expenses
- 责 duty
- 负 shoulder
- 货 products
- 败 failure
- 购 to buy
- 贺 congratulate
- 赚 earn
- 厕 toilet
- 账 accounts
- 圆 circle
- 损 to damage
- 测 to survey
- 贡 to offer
- 贴 to stick
- 赏 reward
- 赔 to compensate
- 赠 to bestow
- 遗 to lose
- 锁 lock
- 侧 side
- 喷 to spray
- 婴 baby
- 愤 anger
- 财 riches
- 贫 poor
- 贷 to borrow
- 贸 commerce
- 赋 tax
- 馈 gift
- 债 debt
- 勋 deeds
- 坝 embankment