How to Write 皈 (guī) — Meaning “to follow / to convert to (religion)”

Picture a white dove (白) suddenly changing direction (反) to fly toward a temple — that represents converting to a religion. The image of something pure turning around helps link the shape to the meaning of following or converting.

Start with the left radical 白, making sure it is slightly narrower than the right side. Then write 反: begin with a left-falling stroke (丿), then a short horizontal, a vertical hook, and finally a right-falling stroke (捺). A common mistake is making 白 look like 日, so keep the top stroke open.

皈 has 白 on the left and 反 on the right, meaning "to convert." 皂 (zào, soap or black) has 白 with 七 below, while 皃 (mào, appearance) has 白 with 儿 below. Their right-side components are completely different, so check whether you see 反, 七, or 儿.

皈 appears almost exclusively in religious contexts, especially Buddhism, in words like 皈依 (guī yī, to take refuge). It is not used in daily conversation or HSK vocabulary. Culturally, 皈依 refers to formally converting to Buddhism by taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

Common words containing 皈 include: 皈依 (guī yī) — to take refuge (in a religion) / to convert; 皈心 (guī xīn) — To convert; to turn one's heart to; 皈命 (guī mìng) — to devote one's life to / to take refuge in.