How to Write 顷 (qǐng) — Meaning “a unit of area (approx. 6.67 hectares); a short while”

Imagine using a spoon (匕) to measure a page (页) of land – that "spoon-page" area equals one 公顷 (hectare). For the meaning "a short while," picture a spoon quickly flipping a page: the action takes just a 顷刻 (instant). This visual links the two meanings to the character's shape.

Write the left component 匕 first: left-falling stroke, then horizontal stroke, then a vertical hook that curves slightly left. Next write 页: horizontal stroke, left-falling, vertical, horizontal fold, final left-falling, and dot. The left part should be narrow and smaller than the right 页, and the last dot of 页 must not touch the vertical hook of 匕.

顷 has an extra left part (匕) that 页 lacks – 页 alone means "page" or "head." 顶 (dǐng) has a left part made of 丁 (nail), not 匕, and means "top" or "measure word for hats." Visually, 顷 looks like 页 with a small spoon attached on the left, while 顶 has a T-shape on the left.

顷 appears almost exclusively in compounds: 公顷 (gōng qǐng) means "hectare" and is common in real estate and agriculture. 顷刻 (qǐng kè) means "in an instant" and is used in literary or formal writing. 有顷 (yǒu qǐng) means "a short while later" and appears in classical or historical texts.

Common words containing 顷 include: 公顷 (gōng qǐng) — Hectare; 顷刻 (qǐng kè) — in an instant; a moment; 有顷 (yǒu qǐng) — a short while later.