彼 bǐ that
that; those; the other
怎么记住“彼”: 彳 crossroads + 皮 skin = that. At the crossroads by the sea, the tourist rubs cream on her skin and points past this beach to that.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
彼 = 彳 crossroads + 皮 skin
- 彳 crossroads meaning
- 皮 skin sound
At the crossroads by the sea, the tourist rubs cream on her skin and points past this beach to that.
How it came to be
The crossroads gives the meaning and the skin gives the sound.
用法
- 彼 is a literary/formal word for "that" or "the other (side)", basically confined to written or set phrases in modern speech.
- 彼此 (bǐcǐ) "each other, both sides" is its main living word: 彼此彼此 (bǐcǐ bǐcǐ) is a polite reply meaning "same to you".
- For everyday "each other" in speech, 互相 (hùxiāng) is far more common and neutral; 彼此 sounds slightly more formal or literary.
- 此起彼伏 (cǐqǐ-bǐfú) "rising here, falling there" is a fixed four-character idiom describing something happening continuously in waves, e.g. applause.