HanziGuru.辟 · pì
辟
pì[pi4]Tone 4

to open, to dispel, to refute

HSK 7
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闢
Multiple Readings (多音字):
Guru Deep Dive

English · to open, to dispel, to refute

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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:13
Writing Balance Rule: Keep the left component (尸) compact and leaning slightly forward, while giving the right component (卩 and 𠂉 components) enough vertical clearance to balance the overall width.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 闢 was simplified to 辟 by replacing the complex internal and flanking components with simpler structural equivalents, streamlining the overall stroke count while preserving visual recognizability.
1. Meaning

to open (a door), to open up for development

to dispelto refuteto repudiatepenetrating or incisive
VerbFormal / LiteraryBound morpheme#action#argument#space
Sample Usage
  • 辟谣
    pì yáo
    to dispel a rumor, to refute a rumor
  • 开辟
    kāi pì
    to open up, to set up, to develop
2. Sound
/[pʰi⁵¹]/Tone: 51
辟
pìpi4
++
`(51)
=pì
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
pi
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "i" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
p
Type: Aspirated Bilabial
Sounds like: p sound in 'pie'
Aspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Strong puff of air! A tissue held before lips MUST fly forward.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Both lips pressed together firmly before releasing a strong puff of air.
Final Rhyme
i
Vowel Group: -i vowel group
Sounds like: ee sound in 'see'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ee'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom of your vocal range, like a firm 'No!' or a sharp command.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the Tone 4 falling pitch (51) with Tone 2 rising pitch (35), making it sound like pí instead of pì.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, decisive downward chop of the hand, representing a crisp, abrupt command or a door slamming shut.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 13 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Keep the left component (尸) compact and leaning slightly forward, while giving the right component (卩 and 𠂉 components) enough vertical clearance to balance the overall width.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 闢 was simplified to 辟 by replacing the complex internal and flanking components with simpler structural equivalents, streamlining the overall stroke count while preserving visual recognizability.

4. Components

Radical 尸 · Corpse / Body Radical (body or roof structure)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 辛 (indicates a sharp tool or punishment, guiding the meaning of cutting through or opening up.)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 辟 (original sound: pi)

A body or structure (尸) being forcefully sliced open or cleared out using a sharp blade (辛), symbolizing opening up new territory or refuting false claims.

  • 尸 corpse/shelter radical
  • 口 mouth or opening
  • 辛 bitter/sharp tool
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted a body or person with implements representing breaking apart or clearing space.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from physical acts of cutting and opening paths through wilderness to abstract conceptual expansion, such as refuting arguments or opening up new fields of thought.

  • In ancient legal texts, 辟 also referred to penal laws and punishments.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
tịch / bích
The entering tone or short tone in Sino-Vietnamese corresponds to the crisp closure of Mandarin Tone 4.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ヘキ (heki), ビャク (byaku) / Kun: ひらく (hiraku)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
벽
Sound Shift Bridge: The initial p often corresponds to p/b/f shifts in related language families, though mostly preserved as a plosive in Sinitic borrowings.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine a detective using a sharp knife (辛) to slice open a locked door (尸), successfully refuting a false rumor and opening up (辟) the truth to the public.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
避
bìto avoid, escape, keep away from+ 辶 (walking)
壁
bìwall+ 土 (earth)
僻
pì(bound form) remote; out of the way+ 亻 (person)
劈
pīto chop+ 刀 (knife)
Explore this family →
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
避(bì)
避 has the movement radical 辶 (to walk/run away), whereas 辟 has 尸 and 辛 components.
壁(bì)
壁 has 土 (earth) at the bottom representing a wall, while 辟 has a different lower structure.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
政府最近采取了多项措施来[___]谣言。
Clue: pì
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing 辟 (pì - to open/refute) with 避 (bì - to avoid) because they share the same phonetic root component.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 辟 in '辟谣', what is its English meaning?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to dispel/refute' (pì) with 13 strokes?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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