How to Write 亓 (qí) — Meaning “Qi (a Chinese surname)”

Think of 亓 as a capital letter 'T' with an extra horizontal line on top, like a table with a shelf. This unusual shape helps you remember it is a rare surname, not a common word.

Write the top horizontal stroke from left to right, then the vertical stroke starting from the center going down, followed by the horizontal bottom stroke, and finally the vertical upward hook. Keep the top line slightly longer than the bottom horizontal to maintain balance.

二 means 'two' and is just two horizontal lines, while 亓 has a distinct lower part with a vertical and hook. 亍 (chù) looks like 亓 but has a vertical stroke descending through the bottom horizontal; 亓's lower part is open, not crossed.

亓 is exclusively a Chinese surname, pronounced qí. You will see it in names like 亓老师 (Teacher Qi) or 亓先生 (Mr. Qi), and it is rare, so encountering it usually refers to a person's family name.

Common words containing 亓 include: 亓老师 (qí lǎo shī) — Teacher Qi; 姓亓 (xìng qí) — surnamed Qi; 亓先生 (qí xiān shēng) — Mr. Qi.