孜 (zī) — (bound character) used in 孜孜 (zīzī) 'diligently, assiduously'
Definition
孜 (zī) is a bound character — it never stands alone and only appears in the set phrase 孜孜 ('diligently, assiduously'), as in 孜孜不倦.
bound form
(bound character) used in 孜孜 (zīzī) 'diligentlyassiduously'
Easily confused
- 枚méilook-alike(classifier) for small, flat, or round objects (coins, rings, badges, medals, pearls, etc.)
- 兹zīsound-alikethis (formal, literary)
- 牧mùlook-aliketo herd, to tend (livestock)
- 滋zīsound-aliketo spurt; to burst forth (of liquid)
- 败bàilook-aliketo lose, to be defeated
- 姿zīsound-alikeposture, carriage
Examples
- 。Tā zī zī bú juàn dì xué xí hàn yǔ.He studies Chinese diligently and tirelessly.
- 孜孜，。Zhè wèi kē xué jiā zī zī yǐ qiú, zhōng yú qǔ dé le tū pò.This scientist worked assiduously and finally achieved a breakthrough.
- 。Lǎo shī chēng zàn tā zī zī bú juàn de jīng shén.The teacher praised his diligent and tireless spirit.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
攵Written in full as攴pūaction
孜 is made from 子 for its sound and 攵 (written fully as 攴) for action.
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