How to Write 鼻 (bí) — Meaning “Nose”

Imagine the top part 自 as a nose with two small nostrils (the two horizontal strokes inside), and the bottom part 畀 as a hand wiping away a drip (the two strokes under 田 look like fingers). This visual of a runny nose and a wiping hand can help you recall the character for "nose." A simpler mnemonic: "Self (自) has a nose with a field (田) and two hands (廾) under it."

The top part 自 is slightly narrower than the bottom, and its last two inner strokes (the small horizontal lines) should be evenly spaced. The bottom part 畀 starts with a 田 shape that is wider than the 自 above, and the final two strokes (like 廾) must not connect to the 田. A common mistake is making the bottom part too tall or writing the 田 with an extra stroke.

鼻 is the standard, common character for "nose" and appears in everyday words like 鼻子 (nose). 鼽 (qiú) is a very rare character specifically meaning "stuffy nose" or "nasal congestion" and is almost never used in modern Chinese. Visually, 鼽 has 鼻 on the left and 九 on the right, while 鼻 stands alone.

鼻 is most often used in the word 鼻子 (bí zi) for "nose," and in related terms like 鼻涕 (runny nose) and 鼻孔 (nostril). It also appears in idioms such as 嗤之以鼻 (chī zhī yǐ bí), meaning "to snort at something" or "to dismiss with contempt." In Chinese face-reading culture, a straight and prominent nose is considered a sign of wealth and confidence.

Common words containing 鼻 include: 鼻子 (bí zi) — Nose; 鼻涕 (bí tì) — Nasal mucus; snot; 鼻孔 (bí kǒng) — Nostril.