bai3贔赑
Definition
Bixi, a mythical creature shaped like a giant tortoise and one of the nine sons of the dragon.
How it's used
Bixi is a mythical creature frequently seen in traditional Chinese architecture, specifically as the tortoise-like base supporting heavy stone steles. It is rarely used in casual conversation outside of discussions regarding history, folklore, or temple architecture. The character itself is highly complex and almost exclusively encountered in written descriptions of these specific stone carvings.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the character 贔 with other complex characters due to its high stroke count. It is important to note that it is almost never used as a standalone verb or adjective in modern Cantonese, but functions strictly as a noun for this mythological figure.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
