Question 1

What is the structure of the character 巵 and how do its parts relate to its meaning?

Accepted Answer

The character 巵 is composed of the radical 己 on top and a lower part that resembles a container shape. The radical 己 gives a hint to the pronunciation, while the whole form visually represents a wine vessel. Together they create the meaning of a wine cup.

Question 2

What is a good memory technique to remember the character 巵?

Accepted Answer

Imagine a wine cup with a handle shaped like the letter 'Z' (for zhī). The top part 己 looks like a person carrying the cup, and the bottom part is the cup itself. This visual trick helps you connect the shape to the meaning of a wine vessel.

Question 3

What are the key writing tips for the character 巵, especially stroke order and common mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Write the top part 己 first (three strokes: horizontal fold, horizontal, vertical hook), then the bottom part (four strokes: horizontal, vertical, vertical hook, vertical). A common mistake is confusing the bottom part with 巳 – remember the bottom of 巵 has two vertical hooks, not a closed loop. Keep the top narrower than the bottom for proper balance.

Question 4

How can I distinguish 巵 from the similar characters 㠯 and 巷?

Accepted Answer

The character 㠯 is a rare ancient symbol meaning 'use' and looks like a spiral, not a cup. 巷 (xiàng, meaning lane) uses 巳 (closed-top) in its lower part, while 巵 uses 己 (open-top). Also, 巵 is specifically a wine vessel, whereas 巷 refers to an alleyway.

Question 5

When and how is the character 巵 used in modern Chinese, and is there any cultural significance?

Accepted Answer

巵 is very rare in modern daily Chinese, but it appears in classical literature and historical texts. It is found in phrases like 玉巵 (jade wine cup) and 漏巵 (leaking cup), often used as metaphors in poetry. Knowing it helps you understand ancient Chinese culture and ceremonial wine vessels.

Question 6

What common words use 巵?

Accepted Answer

Common words containing 巵 include: 巵酒 (zhī jiǔ) — a cup of wine; 玉巵 (yù zhī) — Jade wine cup; 漏巵 (lòu zhī) — Leaking wine cup.

Character	巵
Pinyin	zhī (zhi)
Meaning	wine vessel
Strokes	7
Radical	己
Difficulty	3.2/5

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
巵 (current)	zhī	7	己
巷	hàng / xiàng	9	己

How to Write 巵 (zhī) — Meaning “wine vessel”

Practice Writing 巵 (zhī)

How to Write 巵

What Does zhī (巵) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 巵

Common Words with 巵

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 巵 (zhī)

Frequently Asked Questions about 巵

Characters with Radical 己

Other 7-Stroke Characters