bik1璧
Jyutpingbik1
Yalebīk
Definition
A flat, round jade ceremonial disc with a central hole, or more generally, beautiful and translucent like jade.
- a flat, round jade ornament with a hole in the center
- a general term for jade
- figurativebeautiful and translucent like jade
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in formal, literary, or poetic contexts rather than daily speech. It frequently appears in idioms or compound words describing someone's refined appearance or character. You will rarely hear it used to describe actual jewelry in a casual shopping setting.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
She looks as beautiful as a piece of fine jade.
This antique jade disc looks like it is worth a lot of money.
Related words
Common phrases
to return something intact to its owner
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 玉, which is the general term for jade. Using 璧 in a casual conversation about buying jewelry will sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
