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 up children". The meaning later shifted to "educate", "word", and "writing".
Components
宀 Meaning component
mián roof
Notes
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Historical Evolution
字
Bronze
Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
字
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
字
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
字
Seal
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
字
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
字
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
字
Regular
Modern
Chinese
字 [zì]
letter; symbol; character; word; CL:個|个[gè]; courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China
Japanese
section of village
noun
- character (esp. kanji); letter; written text
- handwriting; penmanship
- the ... word (e.g. "the L word" = "love") (as 〜の字)
noun
- Chinese courtesy name (name formerly given to adult Chinese men, used in place of their given name in formal situations)
- nickname
- section of a village
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
字 あざ
Aza place name
CHINESE WORDS (200)
名字 [míngzi] #259
name (of a person or thing)
数字 [shùzì] #1,832
numeral
数字 [shùzì] #1,832
numeral
文字 [wénzì] #5,594
character
签字 [qiānzì] #3,395
to sign (one's name)
签字 [qiānzì] #3,395
to sign (one's name)
字母 [zìmǔ] #3,232
letter (of the alphabet)
十字架 [shízìjià] #4,926
cross
金字塔 [jīnzìtǎ] #9,684
pyramid (building or structure)
字样 [zìyàng] #23,301
model or template character
190 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
⭐ 文字 [もじ] #1,620
letter (of an alphabet)
⭐ 数字 [すうじ] #2,727
numeral
⭐ 文字通り [もじどおり] #4,921
literally
⭐ 漢字 [かんじ] #7,732
kanji
⭐ 苗字 [みょうじ] #11,361
surname
⭐ 十字架 [じゅうじか] #11,978
cross (for crucifixion)
一文字 [いちもんじ] #12,446
straight line
⭐ 十字 [じゅうじ] #13,719
cross
⭐ 赤字 [あかじ] #16,212
(being in) the red
大の字 [だいのじ] #17,419
shape of the "dai" kanji (esp. person with arms and legs outstretched)
190 more
items