辈

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 辈 (bèi) is composed of two parts: 人 (rén) and 背 (bèi). 人 represents a person, while 背 means "back". Together, they form the character 辈, which literally means "a generation of people".In ancient China, people were often grouped into generations based on their age. The oldest generation was called the "first generation", the next generation was called the "second generation", and so on. This system of grouping people by generation was used to show respect for elders and to maintain social order.Over time, the character 辈 came to be used more broadly to refer to any group of people who share a common characteristic. For example, we can talk about the "generation of scientists" or the "generation of artists". In this sense, 辈 is similar to the English word "generation".The character 辈 can also be used to refer to a person's social status or rank. For example, we can talk about the "upper class" or the "lower class". In this sense, 辈 is similar to the English word "class".The character 辈 is a versatile character with a rich history. It is a useful character to know for anyone who wants to understand Chinese culture and society.