倍 (multiples)

• 拼音: bèi
• 结构: A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍 :: A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍
• 汉字拆解: 倍 = 亻(person) + 咅 (spit out/divide)

含义

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.

例句

1. 他的工资是我的三倍。
2. 这个城市的人口是那个城市的两倍。
3. 今年的销售额比去年多了一倍。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday, academic

语气: factual

正确说法

• 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。

错误说法

• 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。

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal