字

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 一个汉字。▶ —
   One Chinese character.
2. 写字。▶ —
   Write characters.

Collocations

Mnemonic

字 zì "character, letter" — pictograph: 宀 (roof) + 子 (child); originally meant "to raise/breed", later "character". Cognate of Japanese 字 ji. Compounds: 汉字 (Hanzi), 写字 (write), 字典 (character dictionary).

Quick check

1. Original sense of 字?

   • raise / give birth
   • house word
   • child's word
   • school study