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字迹 (zì jì) — handwriting, penmanship

Definition

字迹 refers to a person's visible handwriting — the actual marks on paper, not the skill or style. 字体 is the typeface or calligraphic style itself; 书法 is calligraphy as an art form.

noun
handwritingpenmanship

Examples

  • 字迹，。
    Zhè zhāng zhǐ shàng de zì jì hěn liáo cǎo, wǒ kàn bú tài qīng chǔ.
    The handwriting on this paper is very messy; I can't see it clearly.
  • 字迹，。
    Tā de zì jì fēi cháng xiù qi, xiàng tā běn rén yí yàng.
    Her handwriting is very delicate, just like herself.
  • 字迹。
    Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zǐ xì biàn rèn shí bēi shàng de zì jì.
    The archaeologist carefully identified the handwriting on the stone tablet.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

字zìcharacters
迹jìtraces

字迹 takes 字 and 迹, the traces left by characters.

Characters in this word

Most 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
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

Most 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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì迹jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

迹 pairs 辶, a movement part, with 亦, a sound part; an older form used 朿.

Open 迹 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Reading & Writing

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.