bǔ
卜筮
divination; to predict
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 2 examplesverb
to practice divination (by tortoise shell or cattle bones)
archaicAncient Chinese practice of cracking heated turtle shells or animal bones and interpreting the cracks to foretell the future.
Shāng商
wáng王
cháng常
yǐ以
guī龟
jiǎ甲
bǔ卜
wèn问
jí吉
xiōng凶
。
The Shang kings often used turtle shells for divination to ask about fortune or misfortune.
Gǔ古
rén人
rèn认
wéi为
bǔ卜
shì筮
kě可
yǐ以
tōng通
shén神
。
Ancient people believed divination could communicate with the gods.