启 (qǐ) — (bound form) to open, to start; (bound form) to enlighten, to inspire
Definition
A bound form seen in set phrases like 启发 (inspire), 启程 (set off), and 启事 (notice). It is not used alone — always combined with another character.
bound form
to opento startto enlightento inspire
Easily confused
- 肩jiānlook-alike(noun) shoulder
- 起qǐsound-alike(verb) to get up; to rise
- 户hùlook-alike(classifier) for households, families, or registered residences
- 岂qǐsound-alike(adverb, rhetorical) how could it be that...?; surely not...? (used to express strong negation or disbelief)
- 乞qǐsound-alike(bound form) to beg, to plead for
- 企qǐsound-alike(bound form) to hope for; to look forward to
Examples
- 。Zhè bù shū gěi le wǒ hěn duō qǐ fā.This book gave me a lot of inspiration.
- 。Wǒ men míng tiān qǐ chéng qù běi jīng.We'll set off for Beijing tomorrow.
- 。Gōng sī tiē le yì zhāng qǐ shì.The company posted a notice.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 啟; 启 is its simplified writing.
- 戶戶hùdoor
- 又又yòuhand
For 启, the traditional form 啟 comes from an earlier shape with 戶 (door) and 又 (hand), showing a hand opening a door.
Appears in
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