北

Pinyin: běi | Core Meaning: Direction noun, means 'north'.

基本信息 (Basic Information)

含义与用法 (Meanings & Usage)

中文核心释义 (Core Chinese Meaning): 方向名词，指北方。

英文核心释义 (Core English Meaning): Direction noun, means 'north'.

“北”主要用作方位名词，表示地理的北方，常与“南、东、西”并列使用。例如：“北京”“东北”。有时也指敌对、失败（如“北上”原意为向北，现在也有进攻、失败逃跑之意）。 "北" is mainly used as a noun indicating the direction 'north', often appearing alongside south (南), east (东), and west (西), such as in 'Beijing' (capital in the north) or 'northeast' (东北). Sometimes, it can metaphorically refer to defeat or fleeing (as in classical usage), but this is rare in modern daily language.

象形意义 / 为何这么写 (Pictographic Meaning / Writing Rationale)

“北”是象形字，原本描绘了两个人背对背坐着，表示背向、相反，引申为方位的“北方”。'北' is pictographic, originally depicting two people sitting back-to-back, representing opposition or turning away, which later extended to mean the direction 'north'.

文言文释义 (Classical Chinese Meaning)

文言文中除指北方外，还引申为“背离、失败”（如“败北”）。In Classical Chinese, besides meaning 'north', it can also mean 'to turn one's back' or 'to be defeated' (e.g., being routed in battle).

深入学习 (In-depth Study)

字源故事 (Origin Story)

“北”字最早见于甲骨文，本意是“背”，画出两人相背的形状，象征方向相反。后来用来表示方位的“北方”。The character '北' first appeared in oracle bone inscriptions. Its original meaning was 'to turn one's back', and its structure depicts two persons sitting back-to-back, symbolizing opposite directions. Later, it came to represent the northern direction.

字形演变 (Character Evolution)

甲骨文 (Oracle Bone Script):
甲骨文中的“北”像两个人背对背坐着，表示相反、背离，引申为方向，后来专指北方。 In Oracle Bone Script, '北' resembles two people sitting back-to-back, signifying opposition or separation, which was later extended to mean a direction and specifically the north.
金文 (Bronze Inscription):
金文中“北”的形状更为简化，但仍保留两个人背向的结构。 In Bronze Inscriptions, '北' became more stylized and simplified, but still retained the depiction of two persons’ backs.
小篆 (Small Seal Script):
小篆中的“北”结构对称，更加规整，背向的感觉依然明显。 In Small Seal Script, '北' became symmetrical and tidier, still clearly showing the sense of two backs facing away.
隶书 (Clerical Script):
隶书中“北”横画增多，笔画变平直，字形趋于现代形式。 In Clerical Script, the strokes of '北' became flatter and more horizontal, moving closer to the modern shape.
楷书 (现代) (Regular Script (Modern)):
现代楷书中的“北”结构稳定，上下分明，是今天常见的写法。 In modern Regular Script, '北' is well-structured with clear upper and lower components, which is the standard form used today.

常用词语和例句 (Common Words & Examples)

北方 (the north (region or direction))

běi fāng

冬天北方很冷。

Pinyin: Dōngtiān běifāng hěn lěng.

Eng: It's very cold in the north during winter.

北京 (Beijing (the capital of China, literally 'Northern Capital'))

Běi jīng

我想去北京旅游。

Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng qù Běijīng lǚyóu.

Eng: I want to travel to Beijing.

东北 (northeast)

dōng běi

中国东北有很多森林。

Pinyin: Zhōngguó dōngběi yǒu hěn duō sēnlín.

Eng: There are many forests in Northeast China.

相关成语 (Related Idioms)

南辕北辙 nán yuán běi zhé

Meaning: to act in a way that defeats one's purpose (literally: south-bound carriage with north-facing wheels)

古时候有个人要去南方，却驾着马车往北走。别人问他为何背道而驰，他说马、车夫装备都很好，可方向错了。后来用“南辕北辙”比喻行动和目标完全相反。 In ancient times, a man wanted to travel south but headed north with his carriage. When asked why he did so, he insisted he had the best horses and driver, but ignored he was going the wrong way. The idiom now means to act in ways that defeat one's own purpose—actions opposite to one's goal.

多语言翻译 (核心释义) (Translations (Core Meaning))

  • French: nord
  • German: Norden
  • Spanish: norte
  • Italian: nord
  • Portuguese: norte
  • Russian: север
  • Arabic: الشمال
  • Persian: شمال
  • Dutch: noord
  • Polish: północ
  • Vietnamese: bắc
  • Ukrainian: північ

视频学习资源 (Video Learning Resources)

通过以下链接在热门视频网站搜索 "北" 的更多讲解：

Search for more explanations of "北" on popular video sites:

网络参考 (Web References for "北") ()

网络内容摘要 (Web Content Summary):

北的核心含义为“北方”或“背向”。 北 primarily means "north" or "to turn one's back."

该字的象形起源十分有趣：汉字“北”源自古代的象形字，字形像两个人背对背坐着，这表达了“背离”的含义。 The character's origin is pictographic: it depicts two people sitting back-to-back, symbolizing "to turn away" or "opposite," which later extended to mean "north" in direction.

  • 在古代，中国皇帝上朝时面向南方，因此把皇帝背后所在的方向定为“北”。 In ancient China, the emperor sat facing south; thus, the direction behind the emperor (his back) was called "north."

  • 常见相关词语有：北方（the north）、北京（Beijing, literally "northern capital"）、北风（north wind）等。 Common related words: 北方 (the north), 北京 (Beijing, "northern capital"), 北风 (north wind), etc.

  • 易混淆点：“北”与“南”（south）意义相对，有时“北”还可表示失败或逃跑（如成语“北走”）。 Note: "北" is opposite to "南" (south), and in some phrases, it can also mean to lose or flee (e.g., in classical idioms like "北走", meaning "to flee northward" or "retreat").

汉字"北"的起源、演变过程-汉字字源辞典

汉字字源辞典收录7747条汉字词条，基本涵盖了常见汉字的字源解析，是汉字研究的必备工具。 ... ，从，比，化这四个字中的两个人，不是普通的常人，而是华夏人文始祖伏羲与妹妹女娲。北字象是伏羲避妹，二人同席睡党时背对背。 ...

【北】的甲骨文金文篆文字形演变含义 - 甲骨文研究网 甲骨文密码字典 在线甲骨文字典研究 - 甲骨文研究网 甲骨文密码字典 在线甲骨文字典研究 认路

由于古代天子上朝时面朝南方，因此称背所朝的方向为"北"。 ----- 附 文言版《説文解字》：北， 也。从二人相背。凡北之屬皆从北。 附 白话版《说文解字》：北，违背。字形采用两个相背的"人"会义。所有与北相关的字，都采用"北"作边旁。 文言文名句摘抄

更多图片 (北 More Images) ()

北 - 更多图片 (More Images) (modelslab_artistic_v2)