倍 (multiples)

• Pinyin: bèi
• Formation: A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍 :: A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍
• Hanzi breakdown: 倍 = 亻(person) + 咅 (spit out/divide)

Meaning

The measure word 倍 is used to express multiples or 'times as much.' It indicates that one quantity is a certain number of times greater than another.

倍 is the standard way to express multiplication in comparisons. The pattern A 是 B 的 N 倍 states that A is N times B. When used with 比, the pattern A 比 B + Adj. + N 倍 means A exceeds B by N times. An important nuance: 两倍 means 'two times' (double), 三倍 means 'three times' (triple), and so on. In the 是...的 pattern, 两倍 means the total is double; in the 比 pattern, 多两倍 means the excess is double (so the total is triple). This distinction often confuses learners and even native speakers sometimes use these loosely. In everyday speech, 倍 is commonly used with round numbers for emphasis.

Examples

1. 他的工资是我的三倍。 His salary is three times mine.
2. 这个城市的人口是那个城市的两倍。 The population of this city is double that of that city.
3. 今年的销售额比去年多了一倍。 This year's sales are double last year's.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday, academic

Tone: factual

Do Say

• 这台电脑的内存是那台的两倍。
• 周末客流量比平时多了好几倍。
• 她的阅读速度是我的三倍。

Don't Say

• 他的工资是我的一倍。(一倍 means 'one time,' which is the same amount — to express double, use 两倍) → 他的工资是我的两倍。
• 这个比那个贵两倍块钱。(倍 already implies multiplication — do not add a unit of measure directly after 倍) → 这个比那个贵两倍。

Origin & History

倍 originally meant 'to double' or 'to turn one's back' in classical Chinese, derived from the idea of folding something over. Its mathematical sense of 'times/fold' became dominant in modern usage for expressing multiplicative relationships.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal