courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China
HSK 1, n, 6 strokes, radical 子, rank #1138, Easy
zì(zi4) T4
1letter
2symbol
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
字zì(zi4)
The character 字 (zì) refers to a letter, symbol, or character in written language. It is commonly used in contexts related to writing and language, as well as in historical references to the courtesy names traditionally given to men at the age of twenty in dynastic China.
Strokes6Radical子Frequency#1138DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the courtesy name (字) given to males at age twenty often reflected familial or personal virtues, highlighting the importance of names and identity in societal roles.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'Z' made of letters, signifying all the words that can be formed. The 'Z' shape can help you remember the pronunciation 'zì', as it visually represents the concept of letters and characters.
Meanings of 字
zì(zi4)
1letter
2symbol
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 字
字Simplified
6Strokes
子Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1138Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 字
Podcast: 字
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AI Study Notes for 字
Quick Contrast
汉字 (hànzì) - refers specifically to Chinese characters; use 字 (zì) for a more general term encompassing all types of characters.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant 'Z' made of letters, signifying all the words that can be formed. The 'Z' shape can help you remember the pronunciation 'zì', as it visually represents the concept of letters and characters.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 字 with 词 (cí), which means 'word' but refers to a group of characters rather than a single character. Use 字 in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious about using it in literary or historical discussions without the appropriate context.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 字 connects with other foundational vocabulary, such as 书 (shū, book) and 语 (yǔ, language). Focus on recognizing 字 in sentences and practicing its usage in writing to build a solid understanding of basic written Chinese.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the courtesy name (字) given to males at age twenty often reflected familial or personal virtues, highlighting the importance of names and identity in societal roles.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 字 with the character 文字 (wénzì), which means 'written language' or 'script'. Remember, 字 specifically refers to individual characters, while 文字 refers to the broader concept of writing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 字
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Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 子 represents the sound. The 宀 (roof) component is based on the original meaning "raise; nurture". The meaning later shifted to "educate", "word", and "writing".
Memory Hint
A child 子 in a house 宀; 子 also provides the pronunciation
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Practice writing 字 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 字
字 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
A literal translation of the name Tapies is "walls."
10
当然，识字和智力是两码事。
dāng rán， ， shí zì hé zhì lì shì liǎng mǎ。
Of course, literacy isn't the same thing as intelligence.
Cultural Notes for 字
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the courtesy name (字) given to males at age twenty often reflected familial or personal virtues, highlighting the importance of names and identity in societal roles.
Word Family of 字
Compounds2
牸zi4female animal; to give birth
茡
Words Containing This Character20
名字míngziname (of a person or thing)
字zìletter
数字shùzìnumeral數字
文字wénzìcharacter
签字qiānzìsignature簽字
字母zìmǔletter (of the alphabet)
十字架cross
金字塔jīnzìtǎpyramid (building or structure)
字样model or template character字樣
写字楼xiězìlóuoffice building寫字樓
字幕zìmùcaption
汉字hànzìChinese character漢字
写字to write characters寫字
字眼zìyǎnwording
数字化to digitalize數字化
赤字chìzìred letter
字典zìdiǎndictionary
识字shízìto learn to read識字
字体zìtǐtypeface字體
十字路口shízìlùkǒucrossroads
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 牸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 字
字 refers to a single character or letter, while 词 refers to a group of characters that form a word.
Yes, 字 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to refer to characters.
