霏霏

Chinese

		fall of snow	fall of snow
trad. (霏霏)		霏	霏
simp. ^#(霏霏)		霏	霏

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): fēifēi

(Zhuyin): ㄈㄟㄈㄟ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: fēifēi
  - Zhuyin: ㄈㄟㄈㄟ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: feifei
  - Wade–Giles: fei¹-fei¹
  - Yale: fēi-fēi
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: feifei
  - Palladius: фэйфэй (fɛjfɛj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /feɪ̯⁵⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵/

Middle Chinese: phj+j phj+j

Rime
Character	霏
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	滂 (2)
Final (韻)	微 (21)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	芳非切
Baxter	phj+j
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/pʰʉi/
Pan Wuyun	/pʰʷɨi/
Shao Rongfen	/pʰiuəi/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/pʰuj/
Li Rong	/pʰiuəi/
Wang Li	/pʰĭwəi/
Bernard Karlgren	/pʰwe̯i/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	fēi
Expected Cantonese Reflex	fei¹

Old Chinese
(Zhengzhang): /*pʰɯl pʰɯl/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	霏
Reading #	1/1
No.	3095
Phonetic component	非
Rime group	微
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	霏
Old Chinese	/*pʰɯl/

Adjective

霏霏

(ideophonic, literary, of rain or snow) thick and fast
- 今我來思，雨雪霏霏。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  今我来思，雨雪霏霏。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Jīn wǒ lái sī, yǔxuě fēifēi. [Pinyin]
  Now, when we shall be returning, the snow will be falling in clouds.
(ideophonic, literary, of clouds etc.) dense; heavy; abundant; lush
- 霰雪紛其無垠兮，雲霏霏而承宇。哀吾生之無樂兮，幽獨處乎山中。吾不能變心而從俗兮，固將愁苦而終窮。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  霰雪纷其无垠兮，云霏霏而承宇。哀吾生之无乐兮，幽独处乎山中。吾不能变心而从俗兮，固将愁苦而终穷。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Verses of Chu, 4^th century BCE – 2^nd century CE
  Xiàn xuě fēn qí wúyín xī, yún fēifēi ér chéng yǔ. Āi wú shēng zhī wú lè xī, yōu dúchù hū shān zhōng. Wú bùnéng biànxīn ér cóngsú xī, gù jiāng chóukǔ ér zhōng qióng. [Pinyin]
  O, hail and snow scatter infinitely; the clouds are so swelling they touch with the rooftops. O, I lament my life's lack of joy; amid the mountains I lead a lonely, hidden life. O, I cannot change my heart to follow the vulgar world; indeed, I will grieve till the end of my days.
(ideophonic, literary) drifting with the wind
(ideophonic, literary, of tears) streaming down one's face
(ideophonic, literary) numerous and chaotic

Derived terms

瑞雪霏霏

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (霏霏):

→ Japanese: 霏霏(ひひ) (hihi)
→ Korean: 비비(霏霏) (bibi)