How to Write 疵 (cī) — Meaning “flaw”

Think of "this (此) sickness (疒)" as a flaw on your skin. Imagine pointing at a small spot on your arm and saying, "This (此) is a flaw (疵)." The shape of 此 even looks like a tiny blemish.

Start with the radical 疒 — write the dot at the top, then the left-falling stroke, then the two dots inside. The right side 此 has three strokes: a left-falling stroke, then a short horizontal and a vertical hook. Keep the left radical narrow and the right side balanced, not too wide.

疵 (cī) means a minor flaw or defect, while 疣 (yóu) specifically means a wart, a skin growth. 疤 (bā) refers to a scar, the mark left after a wound heals. All three use the illness radical, but 疵 is more abstract, used for imperfections in objects or ideas, not just physical marks.

疵 appears in formal or written contexts to describe defects, like 瑕疵 (xiá cī) for a small flaw in a product. The idiom 吹毛求疵 (chuī máo qiú cī) means to nitpick, searching for tiny faults. It is not common in daily speech but important for discussing quality or perfection.

Common words containing 疵 include: 瑕疵 (xiá cī) — Flaw; defect; imperfection.; 吹毛求疵 (chuī máo qiú cī) — to nitpick; 疵点 (cī diǎn) — defect.