镳 meaning and stroke order
Bit, bridle; to ride
How to write 镳, stroke by stroke
20 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 镳
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- bit (of a bridle)
- variant of 鏢|镖[biao1]
How 镳 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A metal bit 钅 used to saddle 麃 a horse.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 镳
The metal radical 钅 on the left marks this as something made of metal, and 麃 on the right is the animal it controls. Picture a metal bit in a horse's mouth, and you have 镳 (biāo), the bit of a bridle.
Today 镳 almost only appears in the idiom 分道扬镳 (fēndàoyángbiāo), which means two people or groups part ways, often after a disagreement. Example: 他们毕业后就分道扬镳了。(Tāmen bìyè hòu jiù fēndàoyángbiāo le.) They went their separate ways after graduation.
Common mistake: Learners often write 分道扬镖 with 镖 (biāo, a dart or escort), because the two sound identical and both use 钅. The dictionary lists 镳 as a variant of 镖, but the standard spelling of the idiom is 分道扬镳.
Common words with 镳
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 分道扬镳 | fēndàoyángbiāo | lit. to take different roads and urge the horses on (idiom); fig. to part ways |
Questions about 镳
How many strokes are in 镳?
镳 is written with 20 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 镳 mean?
镳 (biāo) means bit, bridle; to ride. A common word with it is 分道扬镳 (fēndàoyángbiāo), meaning "lit. to take different roads and urge the horses on (idiom); fig. to part ways".
How do you pronounce 镳?
镳 is pronounced biāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 镳?
The radical of 镳 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 镳 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 镳?
The traditional form of 镳 is 鑣. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 镳 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 分道扬镳 negative?
It often suggests a split after a disagreement, such as a band breaking up or business partners separating. It can also be neutral, simply meaning people go different ways in life.
Can I use 镳 on its own in modern Chinese?
Rarely. As a standalone word for a horse's bit it belongs to classical or technical writing. In everyday Chinese you will meet it almost only inside 分道扬镳.