How to Write 径 (jìng) — Meaning “path; track; diameter”

Imagine the left part 彳 as two small steps on a path, and the right part 巠 as a straight line going forward. This can help you recall that 径 means a path or track, like a straight route you follow.

Write the left radical 彳 first with three strokes: two short left-falling strokes and a vertical line. The right part starts with a horizontal stroke, then three left-falling strokes (like a twisted shape), and ends with a vertical line. A common mistake is to make the right part too wide or to confuse its top with three separate strokes.

径 means a path or track, while 彷 (páng) means to wander or hesitate (as in 彷徨), and 彸 (zhōng) is a rare character meaning to walk unevenly. Visually, 径 has 巠 on the right (a straight form), 彷 has 方 (square), and 彸 has 中 (middle).

径 is used in words like 途径 (way or method), 直径 (diameter in geometry), and 小径 (small path). Culturally, it appears in the idiom 大相径庭, meaning 'very different' (literally 'poles apart'), and in formal writing it often implies directness, as in 径直 (straightforward).

Common words containing 径 include: 途径 (tú jìng) — Way / Channel / Path; 直径 (zhí jìng) — diameter; 小径 (xiǎo jìng) — Path; trail.