比 (bǐ) is a Chinese character meaning “to compare”. It is written from 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side, and takes 4 strokes.
Build the character for “to compare”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
匕 + 匕
Left–right structure
Structure from: makemeahanzi 现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer 笔画分组核验（笔画 1-2 → 左匕，笔画 3-4 → 右匕）
Memory aid
Two identical 匕 standing shoulder to shoulder, facing the same way. Line two things up side by side and you can compare them.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
4 strokes
In real words
- 比如bǐ rúfor example比 = bǐHSK 2
- 比赛bǐ sàimatch; competition比 = bǐHSK 2
- 比较bǐ jiàoto compare; relatively; fairly比 = bǐ
Go deeper
All readings
to compare
to compare; to contrast; than (in comparisons)
比较；较量高低、长短、好坏。也用在两个事物之间表示比较。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 比如bǐ rúfor example比 = bǐHSK 2
- 比赛bǐ sàimatch; competition比 = bǐHSK 2
- 比较bǐ jiàoto compare; relatively; fairly比 = bǐ
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 比 mean?
比 (bǐ) means to compare; to contrast; than (in comparisons).
How do you pronounce 比?
It is pronounced bǐ.
What parts is 比 made of?
匕 (ancient spoon; dagger) and 匕 (ancient spoon; dagger), side by side. The recorded source is: makemeahanzi 现代字形拆分，已对照 hanzi-writer 笔画分组核验（笔画 1-2 → 左匕，笔画 3-4 → 右匕）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 比 have?
4. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 比?
比. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 比?
Common ones are 比如 and 比赛. The reading of 比 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.