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Meaning Index

Chinese characters meaning "multiply"

Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "multiply", including 乘 (chéng), 倍 (bèi). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…

How to Study This Meaning Group

The English word "multiply" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 乘 (chéng), 倍 (bèi) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chéng, bèi — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 乘 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.

  • 乘 chéngride; mount; make use of; take advantage of; multiply; to avail ofUseful words: 乘客, 乘坐
  • 倍 bèi(two; three; etc) -fold; times (multiplier); double; to increase or multiplyUseful words: 成倍, 十倍

Common words for these 2 "multiply" characters

Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 乘 (chéng) — so "multiply" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.

See each character in a sentence

Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "multiply".

chéng — ride; mount; make use of; take advantage of; multiply; to avail of

我每天乘坐地铁去上班。Wǒ měi tiān chéng zuò dì tiě qù shàng bān.I take the subway to work every day.

Common words: 乘客 (chéng kè)、乘坐 (chéng zuò)、乘车 (chéng chē)

bèi — (two; three; etc) -fold; times (multiplier); double; to increase or multiply

这本书的价钱是那本的两倍。Zhè běn shū de jià qián shì nà běn de liǎng bèi.The price of this book is twice that of that one.

Common words: 成倍 (chéng bèi)、十倍 (shí bèi)、三倍 (sān bèi)

All 2 characters

Open 乘、倍 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.