迹 (jī) — (bound form) trace, mark, sign; remains, vestige
Definition
迹 is a bound form meaning 'trace or mark left behind' — almost always combined with another character (e.g. 痕迹, 足迹, 迹象) rather than used alone.
bound form
tracemarksignremainsvestige
Examples
- 。Dì shàng yǒu qí guài de hén jī.There are strange marks on the ground.
- 。Zhè xiē jī xiàng biǎo míng zhè lǐ céng jīng yǒu rén jū zhù.These signs indicate that people once lived here.
- 。Wǒ men zài xuě dì shàng fā xiàn le dòng wù de zú jī.We found animal footprints in the snow.
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
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.
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