How to Write 俟 (qí) — Meaning “wait (literary)”

Imagine a person (亻) standing still, saying 'wait' (like 'qí' sounds like 'key') while holding a key (矣 looks like a key with a loop). This visual of waiting with a key helps link the sound and meaning.

Write the left radical 亻 first as two strokes: a slash and a vertical line. Then write the right part 矣: start with the top 厶 (three strokes), then the bottom 矢 (five strokes). Be careful to keep the left and right balanced, and avoid making the 矢 too tall.

伯 (bó) means 'uncle' or 'eldest' and has 白 (white) on the right, while 估 (gū) means 'estimate' and has 古 (ancient) on the right. 俟 has 矣 on the right, which is unique. Visually, 俟 has a more complex right side with a top hook (厶) and a bottom arrow (矢).

俟 is a literary character rarely used in daily conversation, mostly found in formal or classical texts. Common words include 俟机 (wait for an opportunity) and 俟后 (afterwards). It also appears in the surname 万俟 (Mòqí), a rare compound surname from ancient China.

Common words containing 俟 include: 俟机 (qí jī) — wait for an opportunity; 俟后 (qí hòu) — afterwards; later (literary); 万俟 (mò qí) — Moqi (a compound Chinese surname).