碑

• Pinyin: bēi
• Hanzi breakdown: 碑 = 石 (stone) + 卑 (phonetic, also means low/humble)

Meaning

Stele; stone tablet; monument. An upright stone slab with inscriptions.

Stone monuments erected to commemorate people, events, or achievements. Common forms include tombstones (墓碑), memorial tablets (纪念碑), and calligraphy steles (碑帖). Important in Chinese culture for preserving historical records and calligraphy.

Examples

1. 这块碑上刻着唐代诗人的一首名诗。 This stele is engraved with a famous poem by a Tang dynasty poet.
2. 人民英雄纪念碑矗立在天安门广场中央。 The Monument to the People's Heroes stands in the center of Tiananmen Square.
3. 古代书法家的碑刻是学习书法的重要范本。 Ancient calligraphers' stone inscriptions are important models for studying calligraphy.

Usage Guide

Context: history, memorials, calligraphy

Tone: solemn

Do Say

• 墓碑上刻着他的名字。(His name is carved on the tombstone.)
• 这座碑有上千年历史了。(This stele is over a thousand years old.)

Don't Say

• 把普通石头叫'碑' (Don't call ordinary stones 碑 — it specifically refers to inscribed monuments)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 石 (stone) + 卑 (phonetic). A stone marker.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal