Meaning:

white; clear; pure; free of charge;

Origin:

这个字原来是烛火的形状，中心是烛芯或灯芯，有了烛光就可以照亮，因此它最初的意思是“明亮”“清楚”，后来常用来指“白色”。

The original shape of this character is a candle with a wick in center. Its original meaning was bright and clear, and now is often used to refer to the color white.

Words:

   坦白  (tănbái)   : frank

   白费  (báifèi)    : to waste

   明白  (míngbai): to understand

   白净  (báijìng)  : (of skin) fair and clear

   白色  (báisè)   : the color white

Examples:

1. 这个问题我还没有弄明白。

    Zhè ge wèntí wǒ hái méiyǒu nòng míngbai

    I have not yet figured out this problem.

2. 人老了之后，头发就会变白.

    Rén lǎo le zhīhòu， tóufà jiù huì biàn bái

    When people get old, their hair turns white.