How to Write 厗 (tí) — Meaning “Ti (rare character used in names)”

Imagine a cliff (厂) where someone is eating something very spicy (辛) and making a funny face — and that place is called 厗. The unusual combination of a cliff and spicy can remind you that 厗 is a rare, ancient character mostly found in names. Think of it as a "spicy cliff" that is unique and memorable.

Write the radical 厂 first (horizontal stroke, then left-falling stroke), then the 辛 part below. The 辛 must be centered under the cliff, and its top dot should align with the left edge of the cliff. A common mistake is making the 辛 too wide or forgetting the top dot of 辛 — the dot is essential. The whole character is slightly tall and narrow.

厗 (tí) has 辛 (spicy) under the cliff, while 厓 (yá, meaning cliff) has 圭 (a jade object) instead. 厕 (cè, meaning toilet) uses the radical 厂 with 则 (rule) below. Visually, 厗 looks like a cliff over a cross-like shape with a dot on top, whereas 厓 has two vertical earth-like strokes, and 厕 has a more complex bottom with 贝 and 刂. Their meanings are completely different — only 厗 is used in ancient names.

厗 is extremely rare in modern Chinese and is not part of everyday vocabulary. You will almost only see it in ancient place names like 厗阳 (Tiyang) or as a rare surname (姓厗). It appears in historical texts or classical references, so for most learners it is enough to recognize it without needing to use it actively.

Common words containing 厗 include: 厗阳 (tí yáng) — Tiyang (an ancient place name); 姓厗 (xìng tí) — surnamed Ti; 厗首 (tí shǒu) — Tishou (ancient name or term).