Definition
字 (zì) means 'Chinese character' — the written symbol. It is different from 词 (cí) 'word', which refers to a spoken or written unit of meaning that can be one or more characters. 字 is about the shape you write; 词 is about the meaning unit in language.
noun
character (Chinese character)word
Measure word · 个
Easily confused
- 存cúnlook-aliketo deposit (money in a bank)
- 子zisound-alike(noun suffix) forms nouns from verbs, adjectives, or other nouns; often indicates a small object, tool, or person
- 定dìnglook-aliketo set, to determine, to fix (a time, plan, rule, etc.)
- 自zìsound-alike(preposition) from (indicating a starting point in space or time)
- 学xuélook-aliketo learn, to study
- 兹zīsound-alikethis (formal, literary)
- 紫zǐsound-alikepurple
- 籽zǐsound-alikeseed (of a plant)
Examples
- 字？Zhège zì zěnme xiě?How do you write this character?
- 字。Wǒ xué le yí ge zì.I learned a character.
- 字？Zhège zì shì shénme?What is this character?
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