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輩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
輩bèigeneration, lifetime; contemporaryx, 15 strokes, radical 車, rank #59093, Very Hard
bèi(bei4) T4
  1. 1generation, lifetime; contemporary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

輩bèi(bei4)

The character 輩 (bèi) refers to a generation or a cohort of people born around the same time. It is often used to describe contemporaries or peers, emphasizing the shared experiences and characteristics of a particular age group.

Strokes15Radical車Frequency#59093DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of generational cohorts is significant, particularly in family and social contexts, where lineage and age play critical roles in respect and authority.

Memory Tip

Imagine a line of people, each representing a different generation, standing side by side. The character 輩 has the radical for 'vehicle' (車), suggesting movement through time, while the sound 'bèi' can remind you of 'bay', where waves of generations crash together.

Meanings of 輩

bèi(bei4)
1generation, lifetime; contemporary
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 輩

輩Simplified
15Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 輩

JasonAmy

Podcast: 輩

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 輩

Quick Contrast

同辈 (tóng bèi) - refers specifically to peers or those of the same generation, while 輩 (bèi) can imply a broader generational context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 輩; it is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi). This character is more formal and is typically used in written contexts or speeches rather than casual conversation. It often appears in phrases like '同輩' (tóng bèi), meaning 'contemporaries'.

HSK Study Tips

While 輩 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your grasp of generational contexts in Chinese literature and discussions. Focus on related words like 代 (dài) for 'generation' to enrich your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 輩 with similar-sounding characters like 背 (bèi) meaning 'back'. Be careful to remember that 輩 specifically relates to generations. For example, saying '我和他是背' (wǒ hé tā shì bèi) instead of '我和他是輩' is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 輩

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Etymology of 輩

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

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Simplified form of 輩.

Memory Hint

wheel

Semantic (meaning)車
+
Phonetic (sound)非
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 輩

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Simplified form of 輩.

  1. 1The meaning half車 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half非 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywheel
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 輩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 輩?

Decomposition of 輩

IDS Structure⿱非車
輩Full Character
=
非Fei1
top
車che1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 輩?

How to say generation, lifetime; contemporary in Chinese

“generation, lifetime; contemporary” in Chinese is輩bèi

The character 輩 (bèi) refers to a generation or a cohort of people born around the same time. It is often used to describe contemporaries or peers, emphasizing the shared experiences and characteristics of a particular age group.

When to use 輩

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 輩; it is pronounced with a falling tone (bèi). This character is more formal and is typically used in written contexts or speeches rather than casual conversation. It often appears in phrases like '同輩' (tóng bèi), meaning 'contemporaries'.

輩 or something close to it

同辈 (tóng bèi) - refers specifically to peers or those of the same generation, while 輩 (bèi) can imply a broader generational context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 輩 with similar-sounding characters like 背 (bèi) meaning 'back'. Be careful to remember that 輩 specifically relates to generations. For example, saying '我和他是背' (wǒ hé tā shì bèi) instead of '我和他是輩' is incorrect.

Write 輩

輩

Practice writing 輩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 輩

Words Containing This Character20
一辈子yíbèizi(for) a lifetime一輩子
辈子lifetime輩子
前辈qiánbèisenior前輩
辈bèilifetime輩
半辈子half of a lifetime半輩子
下辈子the next life下輩子
长辈zhǎngbèione's elders長輩
晚辈the younger generation晚輩
上辈子one's ancestors上輩子
老一辈previous generation老一輩
父辈people of one's parents' generation父輩
先辈elders先輩
后辈younger generation後輩
辈出to come forth in large numbers輩出
小辈the younger generation小輩
祖辈ancestors祖輩
鼠辈a scoundrel鼠輩
同辈peer同輩
祖祖辈辈for generations祖祖輩輩
辈分seniority in the family or clan輩分
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 一辈子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 輩

It's not commonly used in casual speech; you might encounter it more in formal discussions or writings about social issues.

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