How to Write 弼 (bì) — Meaning “To assist; to aid (formal)”

Imagine a helper pulling a bowstring with "hundred" (百) arrows — the same bow (弓) on both sides shows strong support. The repeated bow shape reminds you of assisting from both sides, just like the character's meaning of aiding.

Start with the left 弓 (three strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal hook), then write the right half: top 弓 (same shape) and bottom 百. A common mistake is making the two 弓 parts uneven — they should be similar in size but the left side slightly narrower. The final stroke order ends with the horizontal of 百.

弼 (bì) has two 弓 components with 百 inside, meaning 'assist'. 弱 (ruò) has two 弓 but with two small strokes (彡) inside each, meaning 'weak'. 弹 (dàn/tán) has a single 弓 on the left and 单 on the right, meaning 'bullet' or 'to shoot'. Key visual clue: 弼 has a clear 百 in the center.

弼 is rarely used alone in daily speech but appears in formal or historical terms like 辅弼 (to assist an emperor) and the famous title 弼马温 from the novel Journey to the West, which was Sun Wukong's first job as a minor heavenly official. It carries a classical, literary flavor.

Common words containing 弼 include: 辅弼 (fǔ bì) — To assist (the emperor); assistant; 弼马温 (bì mǎ wēn) — Protector of the Horses (Sun Wukong's title); 弼亮 (bì liàng) — To assist and enlighten (archaic).