How to Write 圯 (yí) — Meaning “Bridge (archaic)”

Imagine a bridge (圯) built from earth (土) that a snake (巳) is slithering across. The snake's curved body looks like the right side of the character. This visual trick helps you link the shape to the meaning of an ancient bridge.

Write the left radical 土 (three strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal) first, then the right part 巳 (three strokes: horizontal fold, vertical, vertical hook). Make sure the two sides are balanced in height — a common mistake is making the right side too tall or too short. Also, the final stroke of 巳 is a hook, not a simple curve.

圯 has 土 on the left and 巳 on the right, while 圣 has 又 on top of 土 (meaning 'holy'). 圤 has 土 on the left and 卜 (divination) on the right, meaning a block of clay. Visual difference: 圯 contains a closed 巳 shape, whereas 圣 has a crossing 又 and 圤 has a simple 卜.

圯 is an archaic character not used in daily conversation, but it appears in classical texts and historical references. The most famous example is 圯桥 (Yí qiáo), the Yi Bridge, where the legendary strategist Zhang Liang met an old man who gave him a book of military strategy. Understanding 圯 helps read ancient stories and Chinese history.

Common words containing 圯 include: 圯上 (yí shàng) — On the bridge; 圯桥 (yí qiáo) — The Yi Bridge (historical reference); 圯下 (yí xià) — Under the bridge.