-fold; times (multiplier)
HSK level
倍 is written with 10 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
倍 (bèi) is a measure word meaning 'times' or '-fold,' used to express multiplication in comparisons: 两倍 (two times / double), 三倍 (three times / triple).
It follows a number and states how many times as large, many, or expensive one thing is compared to another. The pattern is A 是 B 的 N 倍 (A is N times B) or A 比 B 大 N 倍.
A famous trap for English speakers is 增加了三倍: Chinese counts this as an increase of three times the original (a fourfold result), whereas 'increased by three times' in English is ambiguous; be careful with 增加了 (increased by) versus 增加到 (increased to). Unlike English, which uses 'double/triple/times' inconsistently, 倍 is a clean, regular multiplier: just put the number in front.
Note: Neutral; standard in everyday math talk, prices, statistics, and comparisons.
这本书的价格是那本的两倍。
Zhè běn shū de jiàgé shì nà běn de liǎng bèi.
This book's price is twice that one's.
neutral
他的工资比我高三倍。
Tā de gōngzī bǐ wǒ gāo sān bèi.
His salary is three times higher than mine.
spoken
今年的产量增加了一倍。
Jīnnián de chǎnliàng zēngjiā le yí bèi.
This year's output doubled.
written
我们要加倍努力。
Wǒmen yào jiābèi nǔlì.
We must redouble our efforts.
neutral
被 (same sound) is the passive-voice marker: 被人骗了 (got cheated). 倍 is a multiplier measure word. They sound identical but do completely different grammatical jobs.
杯 (first tone) is the measure word for cups/glasses: 一杯水. 倍 (fourth tone) means 'times/-fold.' Different tone, different meaning.
背 can be read bèi ('back; to memorize'). 倍 is only a multiplier. Same fourth-tone sound in some readings, unrelated meaning.
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