倍

• Pinyin: bèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 倍 = 亻(person) + 咅 (phonetic component), meaning times/fold

Meaning

Times; fold. A measure word indicating multiplication or multiples of a base amount.

Used to express multiples: 两倍 (twice), 三倍 (three times), 十倍 (ten times). Very common in math, comparisons, and everyday language when describing proportional increases or differences. Often paired with 是 or comparative structures.

Examples

1. 今年的销售额是去年的两倍。 This year's sales are double last year's.
2. 他的工资比我高三倍。 His salary is three times higher than mine.
3. 这种新材料的强度是旧材料的五倍。 The strength of this new material is five times that of the old one.

Usage Guide

Context: math, comparison, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天的客人是平时的两倍。(Today's customers are double the usual number.)
• 努力学习效率会提高好几倍。(Studying hard can improve efficiency several times over.)

Don't Say

• 说'一倍多'表示'多一点' (Be careful with 一倍 — 是...的一倍 means 'is equal to,' not 'is double'; to say double, use 两倍)

Origin & History

Composed of 亻(person) and 咅 (phonetic component). Originally meant 'to double' or 'an equal portion,' later generalised to mean any multiple.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal