陪

• Pinyin: péi
• Hanzi breakdown: 陪 = 阝(mound) + 咅 (phonetic component), to accompany

Meaning

To accompany; to keep company. Being with someone to provide companionship.

Emphasizes providing company or support to someone. Common usages: 陪伴 (to accompany), 陪同 (to escort), 陪客 (to entertain guests). Can imply sacrifice of one's own time: 陪孩子 (spend time with children), 陪老人 (keep the elderly company).

Examples

1. 周末我要陪父母去医院做检查。 This weekend I need to accompany my parents to the hospital for a checkup.
2. 他每天晚上都陪孩子做作业。 Every evening he helps his child with homework.
3. 对不起，今天我不能陪你了，我有事。 Sorry, I can't be with you today; I have something to do.

Usage Guide

Context: family, relationships, social

Tone: caring

Do Say

• 谢谢你一直陪着我。(Thank you for always being with me.)
• 我陪你走一段路吧。(Let me accompany you for part of the way.)

Don't Say

• 我陪了他一本书。(陪 is for accompanying people, not giving things — use 给 instead)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 阝(mound/city) + 咅 (phonetic). Original meaning related to city walls, evolved to mean accompany.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal