How to Write 祈 (qí) — Meaning “To pray / To implore”

Imagine you are praying (祈) by kneeling before an altar (礻) while holding an axe (斤) to symbolically cut away your problems. This visual of spirit plus axe helps link the character to the act of earnest prayer.

Write the left radical 礻 first: dot, horizontal, vertical stroke with a hook, then a small dot. Then write the right part 斤: left-falling stroke, two horizontal strokes, and a final vertical stroke. A common mistake is making the left radical too wide or confusing the order of the two horizontal strokes on the right.

All three share the left radical 礻, but their right sides differ. 祈 has 斤 (axe), 社 has 土 (earth), and 祀 has 巳 (serpent). Meaning-wise, 祈 is about praying or begging, 社 refers to a shrine or society, and 祀 means to worship or offer sacrifices.

祈 appears in formal or literary terms like 祈祷 (to pray) and 祈求 (to supplicate), often in religious or ceremonial settings. It is also used in grammar for 祈使句 (imperative sentence), reflecting the idea of requesting or commanding. Culturally, 祈 is common in written blessings for peace and good fortune.

Common words containing 祈 include: 祈祷 (qí dǎo) — to pray; prayer; 祈求 (qí qiú) — To pray for / To supplicate; 祈使句 (qí shǐ jù) — Imperative sentence.