貝

See also: 贝, 目, 見, 具, 頁, and 員

貝 U+8C9D, 貝 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8C9D ← 貜 [U+8C9C] CJK Unified Ideographs 貞 → [U+8C9E]

⾙ U+2F99, ⾙ KANGXI RADICAL SHELL ← ⾘ [U+2F98] Kangxi Radicals ⾚ → [U+2F9A]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

貝 (Kangxi radical 154, 貝+0, 7 strokes, cangjie input 月山金 (BUC), four-corner 6080₀, composition ⿱目八)

1. Kangxi radical #154, ⾙.

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/貝
• 𰂇, 唄, 垻, 㛝, 孭, 𫸳, 𭜼, 𢭲, 浿, 狽, 䢙, 𣇜, 梖, 𪸭, 㸽, 珼, 𬒹, 𥆘, 𦁀, 蛽, 𧧾, 𧳒, 𧼀, 䟺, 鋇, 𩗗, 鼰
• 則, 郥, 戝, 敗, 㲘, 𨿎, 鵙, 𪔡, 𠭁, 𬹠, 頁, 員, 𦮷, 𭶰, 𪽾, 𥦎, 筫, 𡪛, 𮦒, 䩀, 𦺲, 𫂢, 𥴶, 𥴹, 寶, 𧂟, 𫴩, 𠩠, 屓, 𬟫, 𢊾, 𪊾, 閴, 齎

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1204, character 1
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 36656
• Dae Jaweon: page 1665, character 2
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3622, character 1
• Unihan data for U+8C9D

Chinese

trad.		貝
simp.		贝

Glyph origin

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

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

	Old Chinese
貝	*paːds
狽	*paːds
鋇	*paːds
浿	*pʰaːds, *pʰreːds
垻	*praːs
敗	*praːds, *braːds
唄	*braːds

Pictogram (象形) – cowrie.

Etymology

Cowries were used as money in ancient China (shell money).

Possibly from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bwap (“snail”); cognate with Jingpho pawp, lapawp (“snail”), Chepang बोप् (bop, “snail”) (STEDT; Starostin; Schuessler, 2007).

Alternatively, Guo (1945) proposes that it is an ancient loanword from languages of the south (which call it bia). Since the species of sea snail used as decoration and currency—Monetaria moneta (money cowry)—is not native to the eastern seashores of China, he proposes that cowries used by the ancient Chinese dynasties in Central China must have come from the southeastern shores of China and areas further south. Compare Malay bia (“cowry”), Thai เบี้ย (bîia, “cowry shell; money”), Proto-Mon-Khmer *ɓa(a)j (“bean, small weight or coin”) > Khasi sbâi (“cowry; shell; money”), Khmer ពៃ (pɨy, “obsolete small coin”) (Schuessler, 2007). Note also Burmese ပဲ (pai:, “bean”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): bèi (bei⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄅㄟˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): bei⁴

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): bui³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): boi¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): bi⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): pi

  (Meixian, Guangdong): bi⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): bei³
• Northern Min (KCR): bo̿
• Eastern Min (BUC): buói
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): bue⁴
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): pòe

  (Teochew, Peng'im): buê⁶

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): bue³ / bui³

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁵pe
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): bei⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: bèi
    • Zhuyin: ㄅㄟˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: bèi
    • Wade–Giles: pei⁴
    • Yale: bèi
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: bey
    • Palladius: бэй (bɛj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /peɪ̯⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: bei⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: bei
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pei²¹³/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: bui³
    • Yale: bui
    • Cantonese Pinyin: bui³
    • Guangdong Romanization: bui³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /puːi̯³³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: boi¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pᵘɔi³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: bi⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pi³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: pi
    • Hakka Romanization System: bi
    • Hagfa Pinyim: bi⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /pi⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: bi⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /pi⁵³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: bei³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /pei⁴⁵/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: bo̿
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /po³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: buói
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pui²¹³/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: bue⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /puei⁴²/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pòe
    • Tâi-lô: puè
    • Phofsit Daibuun: poex
    • IPA (Xiamen): /pue²¹/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /pue⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /pue²¹/
    • IPA (Taipei): /pue¹¹/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /pue²¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: buê⁶
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: puĕ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pue³⁵/
  • (Leizhou)
    • Leizhou Pinyin: bue³ / bui³
    • Sinological IPA: /puɛ²¹/, /pui²¹/

Note:

• bue3 - vernacular;
• bui3 - literary.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁵pe
    • MiniDict: pe^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²pe
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /pe³⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: bei⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pe̞i̯⁴⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: pajH

Rime
Character	貝
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	幫 (1)
Final (韻)	泰 (25)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	愽蓋切
Baxter	pajH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/pɑiH/
Pan Wuyun	/pɑiH/
Shao Rongfen	/pɑiH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/pajH/
Li Rong	/pɑiH/
Wang Li	/pɑiH/
Bernard Karlgren	/pɑiH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	bèi
Expected Cantonese Reflex	bui3

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*pˤa[t]-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*paːds/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	貝
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	bèi
Middle Chinese	‹ pajH ›
Old Chinese	/*pˁa[t]-s/
English	cowry shell
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	貝
Reading #	1/1
No.	415
Phonetic component	貝
Rime group	祭
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	貝
Old Chinese	/*paːds/

Definitions

貝

1. shellfish; cowrie
2. ^† money; currency
3. a surname

   貝聿銘／贝聿铭  ―  Bèi Yùmíng  ―  Ieoh Ming Pei (Chinese-American architect)

Compounds

• 仙貝／仙贝 (xiānbèi)
• 分貝／分贝 (fēnbèi)
• 北寄貝／北寄贝 (běijìbèi)
• 北極貝／北极贝 (běijíbèi)
• 吉貝／吉贝 (jíbèi)
• 含貝／含贝
• 員貝／员贝 (Yuánbèi)
• 多羅貝勒／多罗贝勒 (duōluó bèilè)
• 大貝湖／大贝湖
• 奧特貝希／奥特贝希 (Àotèbèixī)
• 寶貝／宝贝 (bǎobèi)
• 川貝／川贝
• 巴貝克／巴贝克
• 巴貝基／巴贝基
• 巴貝多／巴贝多 (Bābèiduō)
• 干貝 (gānbèi)
• 幽特貝／幽特贝
• 龐貝／庞贝 (Pángbèi)
• 龐貝壁畫／庞贝壁画
• 心肝寶貝／心肝宝贝 (xīngān bǎobèi)
• 扇貝／扇贝 (shànbèi)
• 拷貝／拷贝 (kǎobèi)
• 拷貝筆／拷贝笔
• 拷貝紙／拷贝纸
• 斯坦貝克／斯坦贝克
• 杜尚貝／杜尚贝 (Dùshàngbèi)
• 櫻貝／樱贝
• 泉貝／泉贝
• 河貝子／河贝子
• 活寶貝／活宝贝
• 珍珠貝／珍珠贝
• 珠宮貝闕／珠宫贝阙
• 綬貝／绶贝 (shòubèi)
• 編貝／编贝
• 萋斐貝錦／萋斐贝锦
• 螺貝／螺贝 (luóbèi)
• 西貝流士／西贝流士 (Xībèiliúshì)
• 角貝／角贝
• 諾貝爾／诺贝尔 (Nuòbèi'ěr)
• 諾貝爾獎／诺贝尔奖 (Nuòbèi'ěr-jiǎng)
• 護貝／护贝
• 象牙貝／象牙贝
• 貝他係數／贝他系数
• 貝他射線／贝他射线
• 貝他蛻變／贝他蜕变
• 貝克勒／贝克勒
• 貝冑／贝冑
• 貝加爾湖／贝加尔湖 (Bèijiā'ěr Hú)
• 貝勒／贝勒
• 貝南／贝南 (Bèinán)
• 貝塚／贝冢 (Bèizhǒng)
• 貝多／贝多 (bèiduō)
• 貝多樹／贝多树
• 貝多芬／贝多芬 (Bèiduōfēn)
• 貝奧武夫／贝奥武夫 (Bèi'àowǔfū)
• 貝婁／贝娄
• 貝子／贝子
• 貝希斯敦／贝希斯敦 (Bèixīsīdūn)
• 貝幣／贝币
• 貝拉圖／贝拉图
• 貝朗瑞／贝朗瑞
• 貝柱／贝柱
• 貝殼／贝壳 (bèiké)
• 貝殼杉／贝壳杉
• 貝母／贝母 (bèimǔ)
• 貝毒／贝毒
• 貝比魯斯／贝比鲁斯
• 貝爾／贝尔 (Bèi'ěr)
• 貝爾尼尼／贝尔尼尼
• 貝爾格／贝尔格
• 貝爾格勒／贝尔格勒 (Bèi'ěrgélè)
• 貝爾湖／贝尔湖 (Bèi'ěr Hú)
• 貝爾茲列／贝尔兹列
• 貝特／贝特
• 貝理克／贝理克
• 貝當／贝当
• 貝登堡／贝登堡
• 貝積如山／贝积如山
• 貝紋／贝纹
• 貝納／贝纳
• 貝義淵／贝义渊
• 貝葉／贝叶 (bèiyè)
• 貝葉書／贝叶书 (bèiyèshū)
• 貝葉樹／贝叶树 (bèiyèshù)
• 貝貝羅尼／贝贝罗尼 (bèibèiluóní)
• 貝赤／贝赤
• 貝那芬托／贝那芬托
• 貝里拉
• 貝里斯 (Bèilǐsī)
• 貝錦／贝锦
• 貝錦萋菲／贝锦萋菲
• 貝開特／贝开特
• 貝闕珠宮／贝阙珠宫
• 貝類／贝类 (bèilèi)
• 貝類養殖／贝类养殖
• 貝魯特／贝鲁特 (Bèilǔtè)
• 貽貝／贻贝 (yíbèi)
• 邦貝克／邦贝克 (Bāngbèikè)
• 鏡貝／镜贝
• 齒如含貝／齿如含贝
• 齒如齊貝／齿如齐贝
• 齒若編貝／齿若编贝
• 龜貝／龟贝

 

References

• “貝”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[3], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

貝

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: はい (hai)
• Kan-on: はい (hai)
• Kan’yō-on: ばい (bai)
• Kun: かい (kai, 貝, Jōyō)^{←かひ (kafi, 貝, historical)}

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
貝
かい Grade: 1
kun'yomi

貝(かい) (kai): display of various shellfish specimens

⟨kapi₁⟩ → */kapʲi/ → /kaɸi/ → /kawi/ → /kai/

From Old Japanese, from Proto-Japonic *kapi. Appears voiced in the Kojiki of 712 CE in a compound, with the phonetic man'yōgana spelling 賀比, and in the Man'yōshū, completed some time after 759 CE.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) かい [káꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠i]

Noun

貝(かい) • (kai) ^{←かひ (kafi)?}

1. [from 712] an aquatic shellfish (generally limited to mollusks with calcareous shells such as clams or snails, and excluding crustaceans such as shrimp or crabs)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 貝(かい)殻(がら) (kaigara, “shell, seashell”)
• 一(いち)枚(まい)貝(がい) (ichimaigai, “univalve”)
• 貝(かい)合(あ)わせ (kaiawase, “tribadism”)
• 二(に)枚(まい)貝(がい) (nimaigai, “bivalve”)
• 帆(ほ)立(たて)貝(がい) (hotategai, “scallop”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
貝
ばい Grade: 1
kan'yōon

Alternative spellings
蛽 海蠃 (rare) 海螄 (rare)

バイ (bai): Babylonia japonica or Japanese ivory shell for sale at a fishmarket in Japan.

Probably ultimately from Middle Chinese 貝 (MC pajH). Compare modern Min Nan pronunciation buê⁶, Cantonese bui³, Mandarin bèi.

First attested in 1284.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ばい [báꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ba̠i]

Noun

貝(ばい) or 貝(バイ) • (bai) ^{←ばい (bai)?}

1. [from 1284] Babylonia japonica (Japanese babylon or Japanese ivory shell)

Usage notes

• As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary).

Korean

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [pʰɛ] ~ [pʰe̞]
• Phonetic hangul: [패/페]

Hanja

Wikisource

貝 (eumhun 조개 패 (jogae pae))

1. hanja form^? of 패 (“clam, shellfish”)

Vietnamese

Han character

貝: Hán Nôm readings: bối, buổi, bói, búi, với, mấy, mới, vuối, thói

1. chữ Hán form of bối (“seashell”).

   寶貝 ― bảo bối ― precious thing (literally, “precious seashell”)