绷 běng to bind
to bind; to strap; to draw firm; to draw tight; to stretch taut
怎么记住“绷”: 纟 silk + 朋 friend = to bind. With strong silk cord from his pack, the hiker helps his hurt friend, taking care to bind the splint on her leg.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
originally 糸 + 崩
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
绷 = 纟 silk + 朋 friend
- 纟 silk meaning
- 朋 friend shape only
- 月 moon
- 月 moon
With strong silk cord from his pack, the hiker helps his hurt friend, taking care to bind the splint on her leg.
How it came to be
Silk gives the meaning; the short form keeps only the lower half of the full form's sound part.
用法
- To pull taut / stretch tight: 绷紧 (bēngjǐn) to draw tight (绷紧神经 to be on edge), 绷带 (bēngdài) a bandage, 绷着脸 (běngzhe liǎn) to keep a straight/stern face.
- Multiple tones: bēng (taut), běng (a stern face / to restrain), bèng (in 硬绷绷 stiff). Colloquial 绷不住 (bēng bú zhù) means to lose composure / crack up.