How to Write 端 (duān) — Meaning “End; point; upright”

Picture a person standing straight (立) on top of a mountain peak (the right part 耑 looks like a mountain with a line). This image of standing at the highest point helps you recall that 端 means "end" or "point."

端 has 14 strokes: write the left part 立 first (dot, horizontal, dot, left-falling, horizontal), then the right part 耑 (start from the top mountain shape, then the bottom). A common mistake is making the right part too wide or mixing it with 而—keep the left side narrow and the right side balanced.

端 has the right component 耑 (a mountain-like shape with a horizontal line at the bottom), while 竣 has 夋 (a person with legs) and 童 has 里 (a village). In meaning, 端 is about ends or uprightness, 竣 means "finish," and 童 means "child."

端 appears in common words like 端午节 (Dragon Boat Festival, a major holiday) and 端正 (meaning proper or upright). It is also used in technical terms like 终端 (terminal or endpoint). The character often carries a sense of correctness or finality in formal or cultural expressions.

Common words containing 端 include: 端午节 (duān wǔ jié) — Dragon Boat Festival; 端正 (duān zhèng) — Upright; regular; proper; 终端 (zhōng duān) — Terminal or end point.