背
Meanings · bui3
- the back of a body or object
- to turn one's back
- to hide something from
- to violate
- to betray
Meanings · bui6
- to learn by heart
- to recite from memory
- unlucky (slang)
- hard of hearing
- out of date
- unfashionable
- ignorant
- remote
About these definitions
Source definition segments, in their original order. Characters a definition cites are shown without their Mandarin pinyin; classifier lists that CC-Canto copied from CC-CEDICT are marked Mandarin. The community dictionary is not independently verified by zimai.
Reading & tones
Schematic citation-tone diagrams from the source numbers. These are not recordings or predictions of connected speech.
Same syllable, six tones
Characters whose customary Unihan reading (kCantonese) is this syllable in each tone, chosen as in the tone atlas (2013 standard level, then the number of CC-CEDICT words they form), with CC-Canto 2017's meaning for that reading; a dash means no catalogue character has that reading. Checked syllables (-p, -t, -k) normally carry tones 1, 3 and 6. Character readings, not word readings; no frequency implied.
Written characters
Both source spellings are represented. Written membership is not an etymological or semantic claim.
Mandarin comparison · separate source entries
CC-CEDICT, the Mandarin–English dictionary, lists the same written form:
- 背 bēi CC-CEDICT · Mandarinto carry on one's back; (fig.) to bear; to shoulder (a burden, blame etc)
- 背 bèi CC-CEDICT · Mandarinthe back of a body or object; to turn one's back; to hide something from; to learn by heart; to recite from memory; (slang) unlucky; hard of hearing
A separate source entry, shown for comparison. The same characters can carry different senses in Mandarin and in Cantonese; zimai does not align these senses.
CC-Canto includes this pinyin reference: bei4. It does not establish a Mandarin word with the same meaning.
Look up this spelling in the Mandarin dictionary ↗Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 15 senses · 2 Cantonese readings
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
bui3 · bui6
Cantonese word readings for 背. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- (anatomy) back
- back; backside; reverse side
- to leave; to abandon
- to back onto
- to betray
- to do something behind one's back; to hide something from someone
- to deviate; to go contrary to; to violate
- to memorize; to recite
- unlucky; out of luck
- hard of hearing
- remote; out-of-the-way
- (Cantonese) isolated; out of touch; out of the loop; ignorant of what is happening; uninformed of the latest news; not up to speed
- (swimming) short for 背泳 (bèiyǒng, “backstroke”)
character
- to carry on the back
- (figurative) to carry; to bear (blame); to shoulder (responsibility)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack