How to Write 闺 (guī) — Meaning “Boudoir; small door”

Picture a small door (门) that opens into a room where a girl keeps her jade tablet (圭). This private space is her boudoir. The image of a door protecting a valuable item can help you recall the character.

Write the outer radical 门 first — start with the left vertical stroke, then the horizontal hook stroke. Inside, write 圭 as two stacked 土 characters, with the top 土 slightly narrower. A common mistake is making the inner 圭 too wide or off-center, so keep it balanced inside the door frame.

闺 has 圭 (jade) inside → meaning boudoir; 闰 has 王 (king/jade) inside → meaning intercalary or extra. 闱 has 韦 (leather) inside → meaning side door or examination hall. Visually, 闺 has two stacked 土, 闰 has a single 王, and 闱 has a tall 韦 shape.

闺 appears in common words like 闺蜜 (best girlfriend) and 闺女 (daughter). It carries a feminine and private feel. Culturally, 闺房 originally meant a young unmarried woman's room, and today it is still used to refer to a woman's personal or private space.

Common words containing 闺 include: 闺蜜 (guī mì) — Best friend (female); close girlfriend; 闺女 (guī nǚ) — Daughter; girl; 闺房 (guī fáng) — Boudoir; lady's bedroom.