How to Write 捭 (bǎi) — Meaning “Open / Spread out / Manipulate”

Imagine your hand (扌) is opening a "low" or humble door (卑 sounds like "bai" but means low) by pushing it apart. Visualize your hand spreading the door panels outward to remember the meaning of opening and spreading.

The right component 卑 has a distinct stroke order: first the left-falling stroke (丿), then the vertical stroke through the middle, then the left-falling and right-falling strokes. A common mistake is to write the top of 卑 too wide; keep the upper part narrow so the character is balanced with the left radical 扌.

捭 (bǎi) means to open or manipulate, and has the hand radical 扌. 拜 (bài) means to bow or worship, with a different right side (a hand worship gesture) and is used in greetings. 括 (kuò) means to include or enclose, also with 扌 but the right side is 舌 (tongue) — think of "containing words." Visually, 捭's right part is 卑, which has a distinct top stroke pattern unlike 拜 or 舌.

捭 is rarely used alone in daily speech. It appears mainly in the classical idiom 捭阖 (bǎi hé), meaning "maneuvering" or "opening and closing," often in political or strategic contexts. Learning this character is useful for understanding ancient texts and sophisticated vocabulary about tactics and persuasion.

Common words containing 捭 include: 捭阖 (bǎi hé) — maneuvering; opening and closing; 捭开 (bǎi kāi) — Pry open / Push open; 捭动 (bǎi dòng) — Swing / Move back and forth.