Meaning and Usage
The character 脾 primarily refers to the spleen, an organ in the human body. It is also used metaphorically to describe a person's temperament or disposition, especially in phrases like 脾气 (píqì), meaning 'temper' or 'mood.'
Common Collocations
- 脾气 (píqì): temper, mood — used to describe someone's emotional state or personality.
- 脾脏 (pízàng): spleen — the anatomical organ.
- 脾虚 (píxū): spleen deficiency — a term in traditional Chinese medicine.
Usage Notes
When used in medical contexts, 脾 refers specifically to the spleen. In everyday speech, 脾气 is a very common word to talk about someone's temperament. Be careful not to confuse 脾 with 胰 (yí), which means pancreas.
Register and Tone
脾 is a neutral term in both medical and colloquial contexts. When talking about temperament, it is informal and widely used in daily conversation.