秉 meaning and stroke order
To grasp, to hold; to maintain, to preside over
How to write 秉, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 秉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to grasp
- to hold
- to maintain
How 秉 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 彐 grasping a bundle of grain 禾.
Radical: 禾 (cereal), shared by 66 characters on this site.
How to remember 秉
Look for the hand 彐 reaching across the stalk of grain 禾. A hand gripping a bundle of grain shows the idea of grasping and holding something firmly.
秉 (bǐng) is a formal, literary character. It mostly appears in set words like 秉承 (bǐngchéng) and 秉持 (bǐngchí), meaning to carry on or uphold principles or traditions. Example: 我们秉承老师的教导。(Wǒmen bǐngchéng lǎoshī de jiàodǎo.) We carry on our teacher's teachings.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 秉 with 兼 (jiān, both, concurrently), which has a similar hand shape crossing grain but holds two stalks. Also do not read it as bìng like 并 or 病. 秉 is third tone, bǐng.
Common words with 秉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 秉承 | bǐngchéng | to take orders; to receive commands | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 秉
How many strokes are in 秉?
秉 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 秉 mean?
秉 (bǐng) means to grasp, to hold; to maintain, to preside over. A common word with it is 秉承 (bǐngchéng), meaning "to take orders; to receive commands".
How do you pronounce 秉?
秉 is pronounced bǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 秉?
The radical of 秉 is 禾, which carries the idea of "cereal". Dictionaries list 秉 under this radical.
Is 秉 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 秉 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 秉公 mean?
秉公 (bǐnggōng) means to act fairly and impartially, literally to hold to what is public and just. It is often seen in the phrase 秉公办事 (bǐnggōng bànshì), to handle matters impartially.
Can I use 秉 on its own in everyday speech?
Not usually. In modern Chinese 秉 rarely stands alone and sounds bookish. For everyday holding, use 拿 (ná) or 握 (wò) instead, and save 秉 for fixed formal words.