琪 (qí) — (literary b.f.) fine jade; used in names and classical compounds
Definition
Bound literary term meaning 'fine jade.' Not used alone — appears almost only in names or classical compounds like 琪花.
bound form
(literary b.f.) fine jadeused in names and classical compounds
Easily confused
- 棋qílook-alikechess or any similar board game (e.g., Chinese chess, Go)
- 其qísound-alike(possessive pronoun: his, her, its, their (used before a noun)
- 淇qílook-alike(bound form) Qi (river in Henan province)
- 骑qísound-aliketo ride (a horse, bike, or other vehicle one sits astride)
- 祺qílook-alikeauspicious, good fortune (in written blessings)
- 齐qísound-alike(adjective) neat, even, uniform
Examples
- 琪瑶。Tā de yù pèi shàng kè yǒu qí huā yáo cǎo tú àn.Her jade pendant has a pattern of jade flowers and jade grass carved on it.
- 琪瑶。Zhè kuài yù pèi shì qí huā yáo cǎo tú àn.This jade pendant has a pattern of jade flowers and jade grass.
- 琪。Gǔ dài wén xiàn zhōng cháng tí dào qí huā.Ancient texts often mention jade flowers.
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.
琪 is built from 玉 (jade) and 其, which gives the pronunciation qí; the 玉 part points to a jade meaning.
Appears in
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