to compare

Two spoons side-by-side, conveying the meaning "to put together", "match", or "compare". also represents the sound.

Components
匕 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

  

spoon, (person)

Depicts a spoon.

匕 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

  

spoon, (person)

Depicts a spoon.

Evolution

比 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
比 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
比 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
比 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
比 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

to compare, liken; comparison; than; (particle used for comparison and "-er than"); to compare; to contrast; to gesture (with hands); ratio

 

Belgium; Belgian; abbr. for 比利時|比利时[Bǐ​lì​shí]

 

euphemistic variant of [bī]

 

to associate with; to be near

Most common words with 比
Freq.
Word
Meaning

to compare

比赛

match

比较

to compare

比如

for example

相比

to compare

Component uses

Meaning component in 2 characters (0 verified)

Sound component in 22 characters (3 verified)

Sources

尤梓竹《甲骨文字考釋提要(一)》p.56

李学勤《字源》p.725