How to Write 芰 (jì) — Meaning “Water chestnut / Water caltrop”

Imagine a water chestnut with a small branch (支) growing out of it, and the grass radical (艹) reminds you it's a plant. Picture the chestnut floating on water with a leafy branch on top. This visual helps connect the shape to the meaning "water caltrop."

Write the top radical 艹 first with three strokes: horizontal, vertical, vertical (but connect the two vertical strokes as one curved stroke in cursive). Then write 支 starting with the horizontal stroke, then the vertical hook, and finally the two strokes for the bottom part. Keep the 艹 slightly smaller than 支, and make sure the vertical strokes of 艹 align above the horizontal line of 支.

芰 (jì) means water caltrop and has 艹 on top with 支 below. 兹 (zī) means "this" or "now" and has 艹 on top but with 玄 (mysterious) below, not 支. 艻 (lè) is a rare character for a type of grass and has 艹 with 力 (power) below. Visually, 芰's lower part is 支 (branch), while 兹 uses 玄 and 艻 uses 力.

芰 is rarely used alone today; it appears mainly in classical poetry or botanical contexts. The common word 芰荷 refers to water caltrop and lotus together, often in descriptions of lakes or traditional gardens. It is not in the HSK list, so learners may only encounter it in ancient texts or plant names.

Common words containing 芰 include: 芰荷 (jì hé) — Water caltrop and lotus; 芰制 (jì zhì) — Clothing made from water caltrop leaves; 芰茄 (jì jiā) — Water caltrop and lotus.