How to Write 荜 (bì) — Meaning “Bean; pulse”

Imagine a bean plant growing from the ground, and the bottom part 毕 looks like a 'B' for 'bean' combined with a line that represents the plant being complete (毕 means 'complete'). So think: 'Grass on top, and a complete bean below.'

The radical 艹 is written first with three strokes: horizontal, then two verticals. The bottom part 毕 has six strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal bend, horizontal. A common mistake is making the top radical too wide; keep it narrow so the 毕 below is centered and balanced.

荜 has the bottom component 毕, which looks like 比 with a top horizontal line. 兹 (zī) has a bottom part that looks like two 幺 (silk) stacked, while 芈 (mǐ) has a bottom that resembles a cross shape. Also, their meanings differ: 荜 is a plant, 兹 means 'this' or 'now,' and 芈 is a surname or sheep sound.

荜 is rarely used alone in modern speech, but appears in the polite idiom 蓬荜生辉 (péng bì shēng huī), meaning 'your presence brings light to my humble home.' This idiom is used to express gratitude to guests, referencing a thatched dwelling (蓬荜). It also occurs in the botanical name 荜茇 (bì bá), meaning 'long pepper'.

Common words containing 荜 include: 蓬荜生辉 (péng bì shēng huī) — your presence brings light to my humble dwelling; 荜茇 (bì bá) — Long pepper; 荜门 (bì mén) — Wicker gate; humble home.