běi

north

Original meaning: 

back

Pictograph of two people standing back-to-back. Based on the original meaning "back", now written as . The current meaning "north" is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

北 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
北 Seal script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
北 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

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

Clerical script

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

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

běi

north; northern; northward; (classical) to be defeated

Most common words with 北
Freq.
Word
Meaning

北京

Peking

north

北方

north

北部

northern part

东北

Manchuria

Component uses

Meaning component in 2 characters (0 verified)

Sound component in 2 characters (1 verified)