How to Write 磁 (cí) — Meaning “magnetic”

Imagine a stone (石) that has a special power — when you see it, you say "cǐ" (like "see") because it pulls metal toward it. Another trick is to think of the word 磁铁 (magnet) and picture a stone sticking to a piece of iron.

Write the left radical 石 narrow and the right side 兹 wide, keeping the overall shape balanced. The right part starts with two dots and a horizontal line, then under it is 玄 (which has a dot, a flat stroke, and two small strokes) — be careful not to make the right side too tall. A common mistake is to make the bottom of 兹 look like 去 instead of 玄.

磁 has the right component 兹, while 硝 has 肖 (xiāo, meaning "like") and 硪 has 我 (wǒ, meaning "I"). In meaning, 磁 is about magnetism, 硝 is a chemical (saltpeter), and 硪 is a type of stone tool. Visually, the right side of 磁 has more strokes and a distinct "top-dots" pattern.

You will see 磁 in science and technology words like 磁铁 (magnet), 磁带 (magnetic tape), and 磁场 (magnetic field). It is also used in idioms about attraction, such as 异性相吸 (opposites attract), which describes the magnetic pull between opposite poles. Although not a common everyday character, it is important for topics about physics or electronics.

Common words containing 磁 include: 磁铁 (cí tiě) — magnet; 磁带 (cí dài) — magnetic tape; 磁场 (cí chǎng) — magnetic field.