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配 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
配pèito joinHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito fitHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito mateHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito mixHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito matchHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito deserveHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito make up (a prescription)HSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito blend, to mix; to fit, to matchHSK 5, v, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
配pèito allocateHSK 5, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 酉, rank #1460, Medium
pèi(pei4) T4
  1. 1to join
  2. 2to fit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
配pèi(pei4)

The character 配 (pèi) primarily means 'to match' or 'to fit.' It is often used in contexts such as pairing items, blending ingredients, or allocating resources. This word can convey both physical combinations, like food pairings, and abstract associations, like matching skills to tasks.

Strokes10Radical酉Frequency#1460DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, 配 can refer to the art of pairing ingredients to create harmonious flavors, reflecting the cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in food.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pair of shoes that perfectly fit your feet. The character 配 has a 'shoe radical' (鞋) at its core, symbolizing the idea of fitting together. Think of 'pèi' sounding like 'pay'—you pay to get the perfect match for what you need.

Meanings of 配

pèi(pei4)
1to join
2to fit
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 配

配Simplified
10Strokes
酉Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1460Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 配

JasonAmy

Podcast: 配

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 配

Quick Contrast

搭 (dā) vs 配 (pèi): Use 配 when emphasizing the concept of matching or fitting together, while 搭 focuses more on the act of putting together or assembling.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a pair of shoes that perfectly fit your feet. The character 配 has a 'shoe radical' (鞋) at its core, symbolizing the idea of fitting together. Think of 'pèi' sounding like 'pay'—you pay to get the perfect match for what you need.

Usage Notes

配 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about compatibility or mixing. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 合 (hé), which also means to combine but is more about harmony than fitting. Be cautious of the tones; 'pèi' should always be pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

配 is not currently included in the HSK syllabus but is relevant for learners focusing on daily life and interactions. Students should practice using 配 in sentences that involve matching or mixing to reinforce its meaning and usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, 配 can refer to the art of pairing ingredients to create harmonious flavors, reflecting the cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in food.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 配 with 对 (duì), thinking they both mean 'to match.' However, 对 is more about correctness or agreement, while 配 emphasizes compatibility. For example, saying '这道菜对' (zhè dào cài duì) is incorrect in the context of food pairing; it should be '这道菜配' (zhè dào cài pèi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 配

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Etymology of 配

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

Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 己 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

wine

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 配?

Decomposition of 配

IDS Structure⿰酉己
配Full Character
=
酉you3
left
己ji3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 配?

Write 配

配

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 配

配 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 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons1
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

This pattern is used to emphasize the action of the verb, often indicating a specific context or situation.

这件衣服是我配的。

Zhè jiàn yīfu shì wǒ pèi de.

This piece of clothing was matched by me.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

刚上班，分____给我的尽是些基础工作。

Just started working, and I was assigned nothing but basic tasks.

Common Confusions with 配

配vs陪
péi

Both have the same pronunciation but differ in meaning.

配vs佩
pèi

Same pronunciation, but '佩' refers specifically to wearing ornaments.

配 means to match or fit, while 配合 means to cooperate or coordinate.

1

他们的工作需要配合。

配 means to match or fit, while 配合 means to cooperate or coordinate.

💡配合 involves more collaboration, think of '合' as 'to combine'.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to join"?

or

Usage Notes for 配

Verb Complement StructureGrammar Tip

配 can be used with complements to describe how well something fits or matches.

1

这个颜色配得很好。

This color matches very well.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

这个颜色____得很好。

This color matches very well.

Example Sentences for 配 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我可以自由支配自己的生活。

wǒ kě yǐ zì yóu zhī pèi zì jǐ de shēng huó。

I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with my life.
2
你不一定非要让唇膏的颜色同礼服完全搭配。

nǐ bù yī dìng fēi yào ràng chún gāo de yán sè tóng lǐ fú wán quán dā pèi。

You don't have to match your lipstick exactly to your outfit.
3
我建议我们给你配备一间办公套房。

wǒ jiàn yì wǒ mén gěi nǐ pèi bèi yī jiān bàn gōng tào fáng。

I suggest we fit you up with an office suite.
4
奇怪的是，那些不相配的伴侣实际上却彼此需要。

qí guài de shì， ， nà xiē bù xiāng pèi de bàn lǚ shí jì shàng què bǐ cǐ xū。

In some perverse way the ill-matched partners do actually need each other.
5
分配给他们的房子舒适宽敞，并配齐了工作人员。

fēn pèi gěi tā mén de fáng zǐ shū shì kuān chǎng， ， bìng pèi qí le gōng zuò rén。

The house allocated to them was pleasant and spacious, and well-staffed.
6
精心搭配的室内装饰似乎已不再受欢迎了。

jīng xīn dā pèi de shì nèi zhuāng shì sì hū yǐ bù zài shòu huān yíng le。

Interior decoration by careful coordination seems to have had its day.
7
喝这酒的时候可以搭配浓乳酪或淡乳酪。

hē zhè jiǔ de shí hòu kě yǐ dā pèi nóng rǔ lào huò dàn rǔ lào。

The wine goes with strong and mild cheese alike.
8
这支舞蹈的配乐是由亨利·托尔格所作的一首原创曲目。

zhè zhī wǔ dǎo de pèi lè shì yóu hēng lì· · tuō ěr gé suǒ zuò de yī shǒu yuán chuàng qū。

The dance is accompanied by an original score by Henry Torgue.
9
我的薪水大约是9,000英镑，还有一辆车和业务经费可支配。

wǒ de xīn shuǐ dà yuē shì9,000 9,000 yīng， bàng ， huán yǒu yī liàng chē hé yè wù jīng fèi kě。

My salary was around £9,000 plus a car and expenses.
10
作为食品配给制的一种遗留影响，他们总把黄油和人造黄油混在一起吃。

zuò wéi shí pǐn pèi gěi zhì de yī zhǒng yí liú yǐng xiǎng， ， tā mén zǒng bǎ huáng yóu hé rén zào huáng yóu hùn zài yī qǐ。

As a hangover from rationing, they mixed butter and margarine.

Cultural Notes for 配

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, food and drink pairing is an important aspect of dining etiquette. For instance, certain wines are traditionally paired with specific dishes to enhance the overall dining experience.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, 配 can refer to the art of pairing ingredients to create harmonious flavors, reflecting the cultural emphasis on balance and harmony in food.

Word Family of 配

Words Containing This Character20
配pèito join
配合pèihématching
分配fēnpèito distribute
搭配dāpèito pair up
配置pèizhìto deploy
配套pèitàocoherent
匹配pǐpèito match
配备pèibèito allocate配備
配方prescription
支配zhīpèito control
配对to pair up配對
配件pèijiànpart
配偶pèi’ǒuconsort
般配to suit
交配mating
配音pèiyīndubbing (filmmaking)
配角minor role
配额quota配額
装配to assemble裝配
配料ingredients (in a cooking recipe)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 配 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 配

Common phrases that include 配 are '搭配' (dāpèi), meaning 'to match or pair', and '配合' (pèihé), meaning 'to cooperate or coordinate'. These phrases are useful for discussing how things work together harmoniously in both casual and formal contexts.