匹
pī · HSK 5
classifier for cloth: bolt
🐎 measure word for horses; sounds like 'pee' — count one pī of horse
匹 (pī) is the classifier for horses and bolts of cloth. The pronunciation 'pī' rhymes with English 'pee', a handy sound hook. Use it like 一匹马 (yī pǐ mǎ) = one horse.
匹 — cliff 厂 + 儿 (legs/person)
匹 originally pictured a folded bolt of cloth, with the strokes representing the fabric draped and tied. From this came the meaning 'a bolt of cloth' as a measure word. It was later extended to count horses and other animals, and to mean 'match' or 'mate', as paired bolts were of equal length.