璧 (bì) - Jade disc — a flat, circular piece of & also refers to something precious or flawless.

璧Tone 4

bì ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

璧 · bì

Jade disc — a flat, circular piece of jade with a hole in the center, used in ancient China as a ceremonial object and symbol of authority;

also refers to something precious or flawless.

Jade disc — a flat, circular piece ofalso refers to something precious or flawless.

Usage highlights

Jade discReturn jade intact to ZhaoPrecious jadeJade and stoneJade disc and jade guiJade disc with grain pattern

Synonyms

  • 玉— jade (general term)
  • 环— jade ring (similar circular jade object)
  • 琼— fine jade (literary term)

Antonyms

  • 石— stone (ordinary vs precious)
  • 瓦— tile (common vs valuable)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The museum displays a precious jade disc (玉璧).
  • He returned the jade to Zhao intact (完璧归赵).
  • This antique is as valuable as jade (价值连璧).
  • The jade disc symbolizes heaven in ancient cosmology (天圆地方璧).

Collocations

  • Jade disc(玉璧)
  • Return jade intact to Zhao(完璧归赵)
  • Precious jade(璧玉)
  • Jade and stone(璧石)
  • Jade disc and jade gui(璧圭)
  • Jade disc with grain pattern(谷纹璧)

Idioms

  • Return the jade intact to Zhao(完璧归赵)
  • White jade with slight flaw(白璧微瑕)
  • Priceless treasure(价值连璧)
  • Jade and pearl returned together(珠联璧合)
  • Jade in the rough(荆山之璧)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Jade discs were important ritual objects in ancient China, representing heaven and used in ceremonial contexts.
  • The character appears in the famous story 'Returning the Jade to Zhao' from the Warring States period.
  • Jade discs were often buried with the dead as protective talismans and status symbols.
  • The circular shape with central hole represents the Chinese cosmological concept of 'heaven round, earth square'.

FAQ