Dong Chinese dictionary

bèi

sea shell

Pictograph of a cowrie shell. In ancient China such shells were used as currency.

Evolution

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

bèi

sea shell; money, currency; cowrie; shellfish; currency (archaic)

Bèi

surname Bei

Most common words with 貝

Freq.	Word	Meaning
	宝贝	treasure
	贝	cowrie
	贝尔	Bell (person name)
	诺贝尔	Nobel (Prize)
	小贝	"Becks", nickname of British footballer David Beckham (see 貝克漢姆\|贝克汉姆[Bèikèhànmǔ])

Component uses

Meaning component in 54 characters (25 verified)

Sound component in 6 characters (1 verified)

Iconic component in 10 characters (10 verified)

Unknown component in 1 character (0 verified)

Sources