How to Write 厷 (gōng) — Meaning “grand; big (archaic)”

Picture a person (厶) stretching their arms wide to show they are "grand" or "big." The horizontal stroke at the bottom represents outstretched arms, making 厷 look like a figure embracing a large space.

Start with the top component 厶 — write the left dot, then the right dot, then the hook stroke from top to bottom. Finally, draw a long horizontal stroke from left to right at the bottom. Make sure this last stroke is straight and extends clearly beyond the width of 厶 to emphasize the meaning of "big."

厶 (sī) is the radical meaning "private" and has no bottom stroke; it looks like a small triangle. 厹 (róu, archaic meaning "soft" or "two-handed") has a bottom stroke that curves or splits. 厷 (gōng) has a single straight horizontal stroke under 厶, which gives it a sense of extension and size.

厷 is not used in modern standard Chinese; it only appears in archaic texts and compounds like 厷大 or 厷志. Learners may encounter it in classical Chinese literature or calligraphy, where it conveys a sense of grandeur or great ambition.

Common words containing 厷 include: 厷大 (gōng dà) — grand; vast (archaic); 厷志 (gōng zhì) — great ambition (archaic); 厷才 (gōng cái) — great talent (archaic).