貶 meaning and stroke order
To devalue, to demote; to criticize, to censure
How to write 貶, stroke by stroke
11 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 貶
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to diminish
- to demote
- to reduce or devaluate
- to disparage
- to censure
- to depreciate
How 貶 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To devalue 乏 currency 貝.
Radical: 貝 (sea shell), shared by 62 characters on this site.
How to remember 貶
On the left is 貝 (bèi), a shell that was once used as money, and on the right is 乏 (fá), meaning lacking or exhausted. When money becomes lacking in worth, it is devalued, and by extension a person's worth can be lowered too.
貶 (biǎn) appears mostly in compound words rather than alone, covering both losing value and putting someone down. Common examples are 贬值 (biǎnzhí, to devalue) and 贬低 (biǎndī, to belittle). 他总是贬低别人。(Tā zǒngshì biǎndī biérén.) He always belittles other people.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse the right side 乏 (fá) with 之 (zhī), which looks similar but lacks the top stroke. Also remember the third tone: biǎn, not biàn like 便 or 变.
Common words with 貶
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 貶值 | biǎnzhí | to become devaluated; to devaluate | HSK 7-9 |
| 貶低 | biǎndī | to belittle; to disparage |
Questions about 貶
How many strokes are in 貶?
貶 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 貶 mean?
貶 (biǎn) means to devalue, to demote; to criticize, to censure. A common word with it is 贬值 (biǎnzhí), meaning "to become devaluated; to devaluate".
How do you pronounce 貶?
貶 is pronounced biǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 貶?
The radical of 貶 is 貝, which carries the idea of "sea shell". Dictionaries list 貶 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 貶?
貶 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 贬, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the opposite of 贬 in Chinese?
The usual opposite is 褒 (bāo), meaning to praise. They often appear together in 褒贬 (bāobiǎn), which means praise and blame, or to pass judgment.
What does 贬义词 mean?
贬义词 (biǎnyìcí) is a word with a negative or derogatory meaning. Its opposite is 褒义词 (bāoyìcí), a word with a positive meaning, and both terms are common in Chinese language lessons.