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鼙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼙pídrum carried on horsebackx, 21 strokes, radical 鼓
pí(pi2) T2
  1. 1drum carried on horseback
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鼙pí(pi2)

The character 鼙 (pí) refers to a type of drum traditionally carried on horseback, often used in military contexts to signal commands or boost morale. It represents a specific cultural artifact associated with historical Chinese warfare and ceremonies, highlighting the importance of music in these settings.

Strokes21Radical鼓
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the 鼙 played a crucial role in military history, as it was used in battle to communicate and coordinate troops. Understanding this character can provide insight into the significance of music and communication in Chinese military traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a horse galloping through a battlefield, with a large drum (the 鼙) strapped to its side. The sound of the drum echoes, rallying the troops. The radical 鼠 (rat) can remind you of the sound 'pí' as it scurries, linking the image of sound with the character's meaning.

Meanings of 鼙

pí(pi2)
1drum carried on horseback
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼙

鼙Simplified
21Strokes
鼓Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼙

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Podcast: 鼙

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AI Study Notes for 鼙

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for historical or cultural discussions. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with related terms for different types of drums, and be aware that it may sound formal or archaic in modern contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼙 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to the theme of musical instruments, which can help learners associate it with other related terms such as 鼓 (gǔ), meaning drum. Focus on pronunciation and the historical context to enrich your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鼙 with other types of drums, like 鼓 (gǔ). Remember that 鼙 specifically refers to the horse-carried drum, while 鼓 is a more general term for drums.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼙

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Etymology of 鼙

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

drum

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鼙

  1. 1The meaning half卑 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鼓 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydrum
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 鼙? 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 鼙?

Decomposition of 鼙

IDS Structure⿱鼓卑
鼙Full Character
=
鼓gu3
top
卑bei1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼙?

How to say drum carried on horseback in Chinese

“drum carried on horseback” in Chinese is鼙pí

The character 鼙 (pí) refers to a type of drum traditionally carried on horseback, often used in military contexts to signal commands or boost morale. It represents a specific cultural artifact associated with historical Chinese warfare and ceremonies, highlighting the importance of music in these settings.

When to use 鼙

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suited for historical or cultural discussions. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with related terms for different types of drums, and be aware that it may sound formal or archaic in modern contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鼙 with other types of drums, like 鼓 (gǔ). Remember that 鼙 specifically refers to the horse-carried drum, while 鼓 is a more general term for drums.

Write 鼙

鼙

Practice writing 鼙 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 鼙

Words Containing This Character1
鼙pídrum carried on horseback
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鼙 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼙

It is pronounced as 'pí', with a rising tone.

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