How to Write 字 (zì) — Meaning “character; word”

Picture a child (子) sitting under a roof (宀) studying a book. The roof protects the child, who is learning to read and write characters. This image helps you remember that 字 means 'character' or 'word'.

Write the top part 宀 first: dot, dot, vertical hook. Then write the bottom part 子: horizontal hook, horizontal, horizontal. Make sure the roof is wide enough to cover the child, and center 子 directly underneath for balance.

字 has a roof (宀) over 子, meaning 'character'. 孔 (kǒng) has a bent line (乚) on the left with 子 on the right, meaning 'hole'. 孕 (yùn) has 子 inside a different top shape (乃), meaning 'pregnant'. Focus on the top-left part to distinguish them.

字 is very common, appearing in words like 汉字 (Chinese character) and 名字 (name). In Chinese culture, learning to write 字 is a key part of education, and each character is seen as a meaningful symbol with history.

Common words containing 字 include: 汉字 (hàn zì) — Chinese character; 名字 (míng zì) — Name; 写字 (xiě zì) — To write characters.