必

bì
#248 most
frequent character
must, certainly, necessarily
adverb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

必 is a picture of a bamboo spear handle. It first meant 'dagger-axe handle', later written 柲. The sense 'certain' was borrowed for the sound, and from it came 'must, need to'. 必 looks like 心 but the two are not related.

Drawn as: bamboo spear handle

必 as a component in other characters

sound8 characters
秘瑟泌谧宓毖铋祕

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Example Sentences

你必须完成作业。
nǐ bìxū wánchéng zuòyè 。
You must complete the homework.
这个地方必定很美。
zhègè dìfāng bìdìng hěnměi 。
This place must be very beautiful.
他必定会来参加会议。
tā bìdìng huì lái cānjiā huìyì 。
He will certainly come to attend the meeting.

Words with similar meanings

一定yīdìng
certainly
Often used to indicate certainty, more casual than '必'.
必然bìrán
inevitably
Emphasizes inevitability, often used in a more formal context.

Words Starting With 必

必须bì xū
to have to; must; compulsory; necessarily
必然bì rán
inevitable; certain; necessity
必要bì yào
necessary; essential; indispensable; required
必需bì xū
to need; to require; essential; indispensable
必定bì dìng
be bound to; be sure to

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