How to Write 贿 (huì) — Meaning “bribe”

Imagine someone has a secret wallet (贝) in their hand (有) and they are giving it to someone else to influence them. This picture of "having money in hand" helps you remember 贿 means "bribe."

The left radical 贝 is narrow and has 4 strokes: vertical, horizontal fold, left-falling stroke, and a dot. The right part 有 has 6 strokes and begins with a horizontal line, not a left-falling stroke, so be careful not to start it like a slash.

贿 has the right side 有 (yǒu), while 责 (zé) has a different top part (like a cross shape) above 贝, and 贤 (xián) has 又 (yòu) above 贝. So 贿 looks like "贝 + 有," 责 is "top + 贝," and 贤 is "又 + 贝."

贿 appears in words like 贿赂 (huì lù, to bribe), 行贿 (xíng huì, to offer a bribe), and 受贿 (shòu huì, to accept a bribe). It is used in legal and news contexts about corruption, as bribery is a serious crime in China.

Common words containing 贿 include: 贿赂 (huì lù) — to bribe; bribery; 行贿 (xíng huì) — To offer a bribe; 受贿 (shòu huì) — to accept bribes.