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擺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
擺bǎito arrange, to display; pendulum, swingx, 18 strokes, radical 扌
bǎi(bai3) T3
  1. 1to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing
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March 24, 2026

擺bǎi(bai3)

The character 擺 (bǎi) means 'to arrange' or 'to display' objects in a certain order or manner. It can also refer to the motion of swinging, as seen in the context of a pendulum. This character is commonly used when discussing organizing items or setting up displays in various contexts, such as exhibitions or presentations.

Strokes18Radical扌
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of arrangement is significant, especially in traditional practices like Feng Shui, where the placement of objects is believed to affect energy flow and harmony in a space. The character 擺 embodies this careful consideration of arrangement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pendulum swinging back and forth, effortlessly arranging itself in a perfect display. The character 擺 has the radical 扌 (hand) on the left, suggesting the action of arranging things by hand, while the right part resembles a balance or display. Picture yourself swinging a pendulum to arrange objects in a visually pleasing manner.

Meanings of 擺

bǎi(bai3)
1to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 擺

擺Simplified
18Strokes
扌Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 擺

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AI Study Notes for 擺

Quick Contrast

摆 (bǎi) vs 陈 (chén) — use 摆 when emphasizing the action of arranging or displaying, and 陈 for a more formal context of presenting or exhibiting.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 擺 (bǎi) with other similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings when discussing arrangements. Common collocations include 擺放 (bǎifàng, to place) and 擺設 (bǎishè, to set up/display).

HSK Study Tips

Although 擺 is not part of the official HSK levels, its usage can be connected to Level 3 vocabulary related to daily activities and arrangements. Students should focus on context and collocations to better understand its practical applications.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 擺 (bǎi) with the similar-sounding word 摆 (bǎi), which has the same pronunciation but can change meaning slightly depending on context. For example, saying '我擺了椅子' instead of '我擺了椅子' for 'I arranged the chair' is a common error, as both are correct but may be used in different contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擺

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Etymology of 擺

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 罢 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擺.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)罷
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

擺 = 扌 + 罷. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 擺

IDS Structure⿰扌罷
擺Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
罷ba4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 擺?

How to say to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing in Chinese

“to arrange, to display; pendulum, swing” in Chinese is擺bǎi

The character 擺 (bǎi) means 'to arrange' or 'to display' objects in a certain order or manner. It can also refer to the motion of swinging, as seen in the context of a pendulum. This character is commonly used when discussing organizing items or setting up displays in various contexts, such as exhibitions or presentations.

When to use 擺

Be cautious not to confuse 擺 (bǎi) with other similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal settings when discussing arrangements. Common collocations include 擺放 (bǎifàng, to place) and 擺設 (bǎishè, to set up/display).

擺 or something close to it

摆 (bǎi) vs 陈 (chén) — use 摆 when emphasizing the action of arranging or displaying, and 陈 for a more formal context of presenting or exhibiting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 擺 (bǎi) with the similar-sounding word 摆 (bǎi), which has the same pronunciation but can change meaning slightly depending on context. For example, saying '我擺了椅子' instead of '我擺了椅子' for 'I arranged the chair' is a common error, as both are correct but may be used in different contexts.

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擺

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Word Family of 擺

Words Containing This Character20
摆bǎito arrange擺
摆脱bǎituōto break away from擺脫
摆放bǎifàngto set up擺放
摇摆yáobǎito sway搖擺
摆平bǎipíngto be fair擺平
摆设bǎisheto arrange擺設
摆动bǎidòngto sway擺動
摆弄to fiddle with擺弄
摆布to arrange擺布
摇摆舞swing (dance)搖擺舞
摆手to wave one's hand擺手
明摆着evident明擺著
摆摊to set up a vendor's stall in the street擺攤
摇摆不定indecisive搖擺不定
下摆hem of a skirt下擺
摆渡ferry擺渡
大摇大摆to strut大搖大擺
停摆to be suspended停擺
摆架子to put on airs擺架子
钟摆pendulum鐘擺
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 擺

What does 摆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擺

You can say '我擺好了桌子' (Wǒ bǎi hǎole zhuōzi), meaning 'I arranged the table.'

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