Pictograph of two people standing back-to-back. Based on the original meaning "back", now written as 背. The current meaning "north" is a phonetic loan.
Components
Notes
Sign in to add your own note
Historical Evolution
北
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
北
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
北
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
北
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
北
Seal
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
北
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
北
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
北
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
北
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
北
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
北
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
北
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
北
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
北
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
北
Regular
Modern
Chinese
北 [běi]
north; (classical) to be defeated
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
北 きた
Kita place namesurnamefemale given name
北 きたいち
Kitaichi place name
北 きたがた
Kitagata place name
北 きたばしり
Kitabashiri surname
北 きら
Kira place name
北 すえき
Sueki unclassified name
北 すえしげ
Sueshige unclassified name
北 すえやす
Sueyasu unclassified name
北 ほく
Hoku unclassified name
北 まつき
Matsuki unclassified name
CHINESE WORDS (200)
北京 [Běijīng] #9,414
Beijing, capital of People's Republic of China
北方 [běifāng] #5,468
north
北部 [běibù] #6,059
northern part
东北 [Dōngběi] #9,416
Northeast China
东北 [Dōngběi] #9,416
Northeast China
西北 [Xīběi] #7,777
Northwest China (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang)
北京时间 [BěijīngShíjiān] #2,214
Chinese Standard Time
北京时间 [BěijīngShíjiān] #2,214
Chinese Standard Time
北边 [běibiān] #7,752
north
北边 [běibiān] #7,752
north
190 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
⭐ 負ける [まける] #637
to lose
⭐ 敗北 [はいぼく] #4,145
defeat
⭐ 北海道 [ほっかいどう] #7,469
Hokkaido (island, prefectural-level administrative unit)
⭐ 北部 [ほくぶ] #11,580
northern part
⭐ 北方 [ほっぽう] #12,357
the north
ほくそ笑む [ほくそえむ] #13,342
to chuckle to oneself
⭐ 北側 [きたがわ] #13,351
north side
⭐ 東北 [とうほく] #17,275
north-east
⭐ 北西 [ほくせい] #17,934
northwest
⭐ 北東 [ほくとう] #18,061
northeast
190 more
items