In the vast sea of Chinese characters, there are some characters that have similar shapes but very different meanings. Today, we're going to talk about the words "圯" and "圮", which look so similar but have very different meanings.
Today, we're going to explore the pronunciation and difference between the words 圯 and 圮, as well as the culture and stories behind them.
First of all, let's reveal the pronunciation of "圯". The word is pronounced "yí" and in ancient times meant bridge. And the story of "The Bridge Enters the Shoes" is closely connected with the bridge and a legendary figure - Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang, an outstanding advisor of the Han Dynasty. One day, he was walking on the bridge and met an old man.
The old man deliberately threw his shoes under the bridge, and then arrogantly instructed Zhang Liang to pick them up. Although Zhang Liang had a prominent position, he still endured the humiliation, retrieved the shoes for the old man, and respectfully put them on for him.
This move won the favor of the old man, and taught him a book of war, and Zhang Liang's wisdom was further enhanced.
This is the story of "Walking in the Bridge", which teaches us that respect and patience often lead to unexpected gains.
So, what's going on with "圮"? How is it different from "圯"?
"圮", pronounced "pǐ", means to destroy, collapse. Unlike the specific location referred to by "圯", "圮" is more of a description of a state, such as the collapse of a bridge or building.
In daily life, "圮" is more often used to describe the destruction of buildings or the damage of roads, giving people a sense of decay and decadence.
In ancient texts, we often see descriptions such as "bridge destroyed", that is, the bridge has been destroyed or collapsed.
To better distinguish between the two words, we can imagine that if you stand on an old bridge, the bridge is "圯", and if the bridge is destroyed because it has fallen into disrepair, then it is "圮".
In addition to the difference in glyphs, the use scenarios of these two words are also very different. When we read "The Bridge Advances", what comes to mind is a picture of a wise man and a young talent meeting on the bridge, full of wisdom and enlightenment.
When we see the word "圮", we may think of those ancient buildings that have gone through vicissitudes and dilapidation, and feel the heaviness of history and the ruthlessness of time.
Finally, let's end the journey with a fun little story. One day, an elementary school student accidentally wrote "圯" as "圮" when he was writing his homework.
When the teacher found out, he smiled and told him, "Be careful, one of your bridges is in ruins!" It dawned on the schoolboy that he had never made the same mistake again. It seems that learning Chinese characters requires not only hard work, but also a love and observation of life.