秉 bǐng — hold, grasp · English

秉

bǐng

hold, grasp

At a glance · 秉

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文从又（手）从禾，会意手执禾把。隶楷作「秉」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「秉」本指手握禾，引申为操持、秉持。

Structure

会意字，从又从禾，手执禾之形。

At a glance

Pinyinbǐng

Radical禾

Strokes8

UnicodeU+79C9

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English hold, grasp To hold (a sheaf); to uphold, grasp.

Français tenir, maintenir Tenir (une gerbe); maintenir, défendre.

Español tener, mantener Tener (gavilla); mantener, sostener.

العربية يمسك، يتحمّل يمسك أو يتحمّل المسؤولية.

Русский держать, соблюдать Держать (сноп); придерживаться, соблюдать.

Common words

秉bǐnghold
秉公bǐng gōngimpartial

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