How to Write 琵 (pí) — Meaning “Pi (first character of 'pipa').”

Imagine two pieces of jade (王) side by side, comparing (比) their beauty to create a musical sound. This helps you link the character to the pipa, a string instrument made with jade-like decorations.

Write the left radical 王 first with three horizontal strokes and one vertical, then add 比 on the right. Make sure the two 匕 parts in 比 are balanced: the left is slightly smaller, and the right 匕 stretches a bit longer. A common mistake is making the 王 part too wide, which throws off the proportion.

琵 has 比 (compare) on the right, while 珙 has 共 (together) and 珞 has 各 (each). All three share the 王 (jade) radical, but 琵 is used only in the word for a musical instrument, whereas 珙 and 珞 refer to types of jade ornaments or necklaces.

琵 appears almost exclusively in the word 琵琶 (pípá), which is a traditional four-stringed Chinese lute. The pipa has a rich cultural history, often featured in ancient poetry and classical music, and 琵 is not used alone in other contexts.

Common words containing 琵 include: 琵琶 (pí pá) — Pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute).; 琵琶曲 (pí pá qū) — Pipa music/melody.; 琵琶手 (pí pá shǒu) — Pipa player..