How to Write 蓓 (bèi) — Meaning “flower bud”

Imagine a flower bud that is so precious it costs double the price — 倍 (double) plus grass 艹. Or picture the bud as a 'buddy' in the grass that will soon double in size when it opens.

The top radical 艹 should be written small and wide, covering the 倍 below. The lower part 倍 has a left-side 亻and right-side 咅; keep the horizontal strokes even and don't make the bottom too narrow. A common mistake is making the grass radical too tall or misplacing the dot in 咅.

蓓 means 'flower bud' and contains 倍, while 莿 (cì) means 'thorn' and has 刺 (thorn) inside. 菀 (wǎn) means 'luxuriant growth' and contains 宛 (wǎn). Visually, 蓓 has the bottom part 倍 (left side 亻, right side 咅), 莿 has 朿 on the right, and 菀 has 宛 (with a roof-like stroke at the top).

蓓 is used mainly in literary or poetic contexts to describe young flower buds, especially in spring. The common word 蓓蕾 (bèi lěi) appears in essays, songs, or idioms like 蓓蕾初绽 (buds just starting to bloom) to symbolize new life or a starting stage.

Common words containing 蓓 include: 蓓蕾 (bèi lěi) — flower bud; 蓓蕾期 (bèi lěi qī) — budding stage; 蓓蕾初绽 (bèi lěi chū zhàn) — buds just beginning to bloom.