字 (zì) — character (Chinese character); word
Definition
字 means a single Chinese character — the written unit you read or write one at a time. 词 and 词语 are longer units (one or more 字 combined into a word); 符号 is a general sign or symbol.
noun
character (Chinese character)word
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 字？Zhè ge zì zěn me xiě?How do you write this character?
- 字。Wǒ xué le yí gè zì.I learned a character.
- 字？Zhè ge zì shì shén me?What is this character?
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
宀宀miánroof
字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.
Appears in
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