How to Write 毕 (bì) — Meaning “To finish; to complete”

Imagine two people (比) competing to see who finishes first, and the finish line is marked with a cross (十). This visual of a race ending at a cross helps recall that 毕 means 'to finish' or 'to complete'.

Write 毕 in 6 strokes: first the left part of 比 (horizontal, vertical, left-falling), then the right part (horizontal, vertical, left-falling), and finally the bottom 十 (horizontal, vertical). A common mistake is making the bottom 十 too large or misaligning it with the center of 比—keep it small and centered under the two components.

比 means 'to compare' or 'ratio' and is a standalone character, while 毕 has the extra 十 component at the bottom, changing the meaning to 'to finish'. Visually, 比 is symmetrical with two identical parts side by side, whereas 毕 adds a cross below, making it taller and less symmetrical.

毕 is most commonly used in 毕业 (bì yè, 'to graduate') and 完毕 (wán bì, 'to finish/end'). Culturally, graduation (毕业) is a major life event in China, often celebrated with ceremonies and photos, and the character 毕 carries a sense of successfully completing an important stage.

Common words containing 毕 include: 毕业 (bì yè) — To graduate; 完毕 (wán bì) — To finish / End; 毕竟 (bì jìng) — After all.