How to Write 秩 (zhì) — Meaning “order”

Picture a farmer placing bundles of grain (禾) in perfect rows so that none are lost (失). This careful organization represents 'order' (秩). The visual of grain in order helps you recall the meaning.

Write the left radical 禾 first, then the right part 失. A common mistake is making the right side too narrow — the top stroke of 失 should be a left-falling stroke (丿) and the bottom a right-falling stroke (捺). Keep the left side compact and the right side balanced.

秆 (gǎn) also has 禾 but means 'stalk of grain,' not order. 秉 (bǐng) has 禾 and 手 (hand), meaning 'to hold or grasp.' 秩 specifically refers to order, rank, or social order, not physical objects or actions.

秩 appears in formal words like 秩序 (zhì xù, order or social order) and 官秩 (guān zhì, official rank). It is not common in everyday conversation but is important in news, government, and classical references about maintaining harmonious society.

Common words containing 秩 include: 秩序 (zhì xù) — order / social order; 秩然 (zhì rán) — orderly; 官秩 (guān zhì) — Official rank.