How to Write 彳 (chì) — Meaning “step with the left foot; 'double person' radical”

Picture the three strokes as a small left foot taking one quick step forward — the two slanted strokes are the toes and the vertical line is the leg. Or think of the shape as a tiny person taking a single step to the left. The number 3 (strokes) can remind you of "three steps" but it's just one step.

Start with a short left-falling stroke (pie), then another short left-falling stroke slightly below it, then a vertical stroke (shu) that cuts through both slanted strokes. A common mistake is making the vertical stroke too long or curving it — keep it straight and not longer than the slanted strokes. Also ensure the two pie strokes are parallel in angle.

The most common phrase is 彳亍 (chì chù), meaning 'to walk slowly' or 'to loiter,' often used in classical poetry. Another is 彳部 (chì bù), which refers to the 'step' radical (Radical 60) in dictionary systems. These terms are literary or technical and rarely appear in everyday conversation.

彳 is almost never used as a standalone word today; it functions only as a radical in characters like 行, 待, and 往. The name 'double person' radical comes from a mistaken comparison with 亻 (single person), but 彳 actually represents two steps or footprints. When learning Chinese characters, knowing 彳 helps you understand many movement-related characters.

Common words containing 彳 include: 彳 (chì) — step with the left foot; 'double person' radical; 彳亍 (chì chù) — to walk slowly; to loiter; 彳部 (chì bù) — the 'step' radical (Radical 60).