How to Write 额 (é) — Meaning “Forehead; amount”

Imagine a guest (客) arriving at your door with a huge forehead (页) and a number written on it, representing an 'amount' or 'quota'. This image links the meaning of forehead and amount to the character's shape.

The left component 客 is narrower than the right component 页. A common mistake is making the left side too wide. Also, pay attention to the stroke order: write the left part first (dot, dot, horizontal hook, etc.), then the right part 页 (horizontal, left-falling, vertical, horizontal fold, left-falling, dot).

颐 (yí) has a left side 臣 (minister) and means 'chin' or 'cheek', and is used in words like 颐和园. 频 (pín) has a left side 步 (step) and means 'frequency' or 'repeatedly', as in 频率. 额 uses 客 on the left and refers to 'forehead' or 'amount'.

额 is common in daily life, for example 额头 (forehead) is a body part, and 名额 (quota) or 余额 (balance) are used in business and school contexts. Culturally, a high forehead is often seen as a sign of intelligence in China.

Common words containing 额 include: 额头 (é tóu) — Forehead; 名额 (míng é) — quota; number of people; 余额 (yú é) — balance (of an account).