How to Write 契 (qì) — Meaning “contract; agreement; deed”

Imagine a big (大) piece of wood that has been carved (㓞) with a knife to record an important agreement. The top part 㓞 looks like a hand holding a knife (you can think of the left side as a knife and the right as a hand). So, remember: 'big carved contract' = 契.

Write the top part 㓞 first: horizontal stroke, then a vertical fold hook, then a vertical stroke, then a short left-falling stroke, and finally a dot (the dot is important, do not miss it). Then write the bottom 大: horizontal, left-falling, right-falling. A common mistake is to write the top part with too many strokes or to confuse the order of the vertical strokes—note that the vertical fold hook (like an 'L' but connected) comes first, then the separate vertical stroke.

契 (qì) means 'contract' and contains the carving element 㓞. 奁 (lián) means 'a cosmetic box' and has the radical 大 on top with 匚 (box) below, so it emphasizes a container shape. 奂 (huàn) means 'grand, magnificent' and is written with 大 on top and 廾 (two hands) below, not related to carving. Visually, 契 has a complex top (㓞), while 奁 has a box-like enclosure and 奂 has a simpler bottom with two parallel strokes.

契 is most commonly used in formal contexts for legal or binding agreements, such as 契约 (qì yuē, contract) and 地契 (dì qì, land deed). It also appears in the word 默契 (mò qì, tacit understanding), which describes a silent, unspoken agreement between people—a culturally valued concept in Chinese interpersonal relationships. Additionally, 契机 (qì jī) means a crucial turning point or opportunity, like a 'contract moment' that changes a situation.

Common words containing 契 include: 契约 (qì yuē) — contract; agreement; 默契 (mò qì) — Tacit understanding; 契机 (qì jī) — opportunity; turning point.