How to Write 起 (qǐ) — Meaning “to rise; to get up; to start”

Imagine you are walking (走) and suddenly a snake (巳) rises up in front of you—so you have to rise or start moving quickly. This visual of a snake coiling upward from the ground helps link the shape to the meaning of "to get up."

Write the left radical 走 first with seven strokes (horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, left-falling, right-falling), then add the right component 巳 (horizontal bend, horizontal, vertical hook). Pay attention to the vertical hook of 巳—it should be curved, not straight—and keep the 走 part slightly wider than the right part.

All three share the 走 radical, but their right sides differ: 起 has 巳 (self), 赳 has 丩 (a knot/entwining), and 赴 has 卜 (divination). 起 means "to rise" or "to start," 赳 (jiū) means "strong" or "brave" (used in the word 赳赳), and 赴 (fù) means "to go to" or "attend" (as in 赴约).

起 appears in very common phrases like 起床 (qǐ chuáng, to get out of bed), 一起 (yì qǐ, together), and 起来 (qǐ lái, to get up or to start). Culturally, 起床 is often used as a morning call, and 一起 emphasizes doing something with others, reflecting the idea of rising or beginning together.

Common words containing 起 include: 起床 (qǐ chuáng) — to get out of bed; to get up; 一起 (yì qǐ) — together; 起来 (qǐ lái) — to get up; to stand up.