贵guì
Character evolution
贵
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简体
Simplified Chinese
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Shuowen
Expensive. The character 贵 (traditional 貴) is composed of 贝 (shell, money) and 夂 (a phonetic element), literally suggesting money that is high in value. In oracle bone inscriptions the shell appears with the 夂 symbol, giving the earliest meaning of high price or preciousness. The combination of money with a phonetic component explains why 贵 denotes costly or noble.
Pinyin
guì· HSK 1