How to Write 毙 (bì) — Meaning “To die; to kill”

Imagine two people (比, like two sticks) lying next to a symbol of death (歹) — they are both dead. This visual of "two comparing in death" helps recall that 毙 means to die or to be killed.

The left part 比 has 4 strokes: start with a horizontal stroke, then a vertical, then a short left-falling stroke, then a horizontal with a hook. The right part 歹 has 4 strokes: a horizontal, a left-falling, a dot, then a left-falling hook. Keep the left part slightly narrower than the right, and make sure the bottom of 歹 lines up with the bottom of 比.

㲋 is a very rare character meaning "a kind of animal" (like a rabbit) and is not used in modern Chinese. 毖 (bì) means "to be cautious" or "to guard" and is used in formal phrases like 惩前毖后 (learn from past mistakes). Unlike 毙, which is about death or killing, 毖 has no connection to death. Visually, 毙 has 歹 on the right, while 毖 has 必 (must) under 比.

毙 is used in formal or serious contexts, such as 枪毙 (execution by shooting), 击毙 (to shoot dead), and 毙命 (to die, often in accidents or battles). It is not used in everyday conversation because it sounds harsh or official. In Chinese law, 枪毙 specifically refers to the death penalty by shooting, a practice now rare but historically common.

Common words containing 毙 include: 枪毙 (qiāng bì) — to execute by shooting; 毙命 (bì mìng) — To lose one's life; to die; 击毙 (jī bì) — to shoot dead.