俾
to cause; to enable; phonetic bi; Taiwan pr. [bi4]
Closest English meanings
to cause·to enable
The Calligrapher — Cài Xiāng 蔡襄
One of the Four Song masters, known for graceful regular and running script.
Song calligrapher (1012–1067), master of regular script/running script — Song master of warm, disciplined regular script, the most 'proper' of the Song Four. Song dynasty
Cultural Story
俾 is to make possible. The 尚书 writes 俾 the people prosper; a notice would 俾众周知 a new decree. To 俾使 a thing happen was the magistrate's quiet art. The character is the hinge that lets one event open the next. To write 俾 is to set a cause in motion.
Common words & phrases
- 俾使 so as to · enable
- 俾众周知 to make known to all
Read the story behind the character
A poster reads 俾众周知 of the road closure ahead; the clause is meant to 俾使 fair play in the league. The word now lives in formal notices and archived documents. Causing and making known — this character still appears wherever an order must reach everyone, from the bulletin board to the sealed file.
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