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.
用法
- 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'.
含“贝”的汉字
- 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