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背诵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
背诵bèisòngto reciteHSK 7, v, rank #16538, Hard
背诵bèisòngto repeat from memoryHSK 7, v, rank #16538, Hard
bèisòng(bei4song4) T4
  1. 1to recite
  2. 2to repeat from memory
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March 24, 2026
背诵(背誦)bèisòng(bei4song4)

背诵 (bèi sòng) refers to the act of reciting or repeating something from memory, often used in educational contexts such as memorizing poetry, speeches, or texts. It emphasizes not just familiarity with the content, but the ability to reproduce it verbally without prompts.

Frequency#16538DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese education, memorization is highly valued, particularly in subjects like literature and history, where students often engage in 背诵 to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of texts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a student with a heavy backpack (背) filled with books, practicing reciting (诵) lines from a poem. The weight of the backpack symbolizes the effort of memorization, while the act of reciting highlights the goal of背诵.

Meanings of 背诵

bèisòng(bei4song4)
1to recite
2to repeat from memory
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 背诵

背诵Simplified
背誦Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#16538Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 背诵

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Podcast: 背诵

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AI Study Notes for 背诵

Quick Contrast

背诵 (bèi sòng) vs 朗读 (lǎng dú) — 背诵 focuses on memorization and recitation from memory, while 朗读 emphasizes reading aloud with expression.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a student with a heavy backpack (背) filled with books, practicing reciting (诵) lines from a poem. The weight of the backpack symbolizes the effort of memorization, while the act of reciting highlights the goal of背诵.

Usage Notes

背诵 is generally used in formal educational settings, so it's best to avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing study habits. Common collocations include 背诵课文 (recite a text) or 背诵诗歌 (recite poetry). Remember to use the fourth tone for both characters to convey the correct meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 背诵 connects with other advanced vocabulary focused on education and learning. Students should focus on the nuances of when to use 背诵 versus other verbs like 记 (jì, to remember) or 念 (niàn, to read aloud).

Cultural Note

In Chinese education, memorization is highly valued, particularly in subjects like literature and history, where students often engage in 背诵 to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 背诵 with 念 (niàn), which means 'to read aloud' rather than to recite from memory. For example, saying '我念课文' (I recite the text) should actually be '我背诵课文' to convey the correct meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 背诵

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Component Characters

bēithe back of a body or object
HSK 49 strokes
View full entry
sòngto read aloud
9 strokes
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Write 背诵

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

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Grammar Patterns of 背诵

背诵 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

你只是在____自己死记硬背下来的东西。

You are merely reciting facts that you have learned by rote.

Example Sentences for 背诵 (4)

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1
你只是在背诵自己死记硬背下来的东西。

nǐ zhī shì zài bèi sòng zì jǐ sǐ jì yìng bèi xià lái de dōng xī。

You are merely reciting facts that you have learned by rote.
2
你必须反复朗读这几行一直到能背诵为止.

nǐ bì xū fǎn fù lǎng dú zhè jī háng yī zhí dào néng bèi sòng wéi zhǐ.

You must keep repeating the lines until they are known by heart.
3
他背诵了《诗篇》第23篇中的一节。

tā bèi sòng le《 《 shī》 piān23 》 dì 23 piān zhōng。

He recited a verse of the twenty-third psalm.
4
每个孩子都得在班上背诵一首诗。

měi gè hái zǐ dū dé zài bān shàng bèi sòng yī shǒu shī。

Each child had to recite a poem to the class.

Cultural Notes for 背诵

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese education, memorization is highly valued, particularly in subjects like literature and history, where students often engage in 背诵 to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of texts.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While memorization is also valued in Western education, the emphasis on recitation and verbal reproduction in Chinese classrooms is often more pronounced, reflecting different educational philosophies.

Frequently Asked Questions about 背诵

You can say, '我每天都要背诵课文' (I have to recite the text every day).