狴 (bì) - A legendary beast resembling a tiger & refers to a prison or jail (from 狴犴,

狴Tone 4

bì ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

狴 · bì

A legendary beast resembling a tiger;

refers to a prison or jail (from 狴犴, a mythological prison-guarding creature).

A legendary beast resembling a tigerrefers to a prison or jail (from 狴犴,

Usage highlights

Bì'àn beastprison gatebehind barsBì'àn dragon

Synonyms

  • 狱— prison, jail
  • 牢— prison, cell

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient prison gate was decorated with images of the Bì'àn beast (狴犴).
  • In classical texts, 狴犴 guarded prison gates (狴犴守狱门).
  • The term 狴犴 became a metaphor for prison (狴犴代指监狱).

Collocations

  • Bì'àn beast(狴犴)
  • prison gate(狴门)
  • behind bars(身陷狴犴)
  • Bì'àn dragon (one of the nine sons of the dragon)(龙生九子之狴犴)

Idioms

  • Tigers and Bì'àn(虎豹狴犴)
  • Fierce as Bì'àn(猛如狴犴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 狴犴 is one of the nine sons of the dragon in Chinese mythology, often depicted on prison gates as it was believed to uphold justice.
  • The character 狴 is almost exclusively used in the compound 狴犴, which became a literary term for prison.
  • In legal and judicial contexts, 狴犴 symbolizes the power and solemnity of the law.

FAQ