How to Write 旨 (zhǐ) — Meaning “purpose; aim; decree”

Picture a sun (日) shining on a spoon (匕) — the sun's rays point directly at the spoon, representing your 'aim' or 'purpose' like a target. This visual of the sun aiming at the spoon helps you remember that 旨 means purpose or aim.

The stroke order is: left vertical, top horizontal, right vertical, bottom horizontal for 日, then a short horizontal and a left-falling stroke for 匕. Keep the 日 about half the total height, and make the 匕's horizontal shorter than the width of 日. A common mistake is making the left-falling stroke of 匕 too long or vertical, which changes the shape.

旨 has a bottom component 匕 (spoon), while 日 is just the sun radical alone and 旦 has a horizontal line under 日. Visually, 旦 looks like a sun on a horizon, while 旨 has a curved spoon shape below. In meaning, 日 is 'sun', 旦 is 'dawn', and 旨 is 'purpose' or 'decree', so they are used in very different contexts.

旨 is used in formal or official contexts, appearing in words like 宗旨 (zōngzhǐ, fundamental purpose) and 旨意 (zhǐyì, decree or intention). It often appears in company missions, legal documents, or historical references to imperial orders. Culturally, 旨 carries an authoritative tone, linking back to its historical use for the emperor's will.

Common words containing 旨 include: 宗旨 (zōng zhǐ) — Purpose / Aim; 旨意 (zhǐ yì) — decree; will; intention; 要旨 (yào zhǐ) — Main point / Essentials.