Chinese–EnglishWith examples

字

zì · zi

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 1Measure word: 个 gè

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. letter
  2. symbol
  3. character
  4. word
  5. courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

A hard character

  1. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)字(zì)怎么(zěnme)念(niàn)？

    How do you read this character?

  2. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)看看(kànkan)，这个(zhège)字(zì)是(shì)躺(tǎng)，躺下(tǎngxià)的(de)躺(tǎng)。

    Let me see. This character is tang, as in lie down.

  3. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)字(zì)真(zhēn)难(nán)写(xiě)，写(xiě)了(le)十次(shícì)还是(háishi)不对(bùduì)。

    This character is hard to write. Ten tries and still wrong.

  4. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)看(kàn)，左边(zuǒbian)是(shì)身体(shēntǐ)的(de)身(shēn)，右边(yòubian)有(yǒu)个(gè)尚(shàng)。

    Look, the left is body, and the right has a shang.

  5. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)记住(jìzhu)了(le)。我(wǒ)现在(xiànzài)只(zhǐ)想(xiǎng)躺下(tǎngxià)。

    Got it. Now I just want to lie down.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)连(lián)字(zì)都(dōu)不(bú)会(huì)念(niàn)，更(gèng)别(bié)说(shuō)写(xiě)了(le)。

He can't even read, let alone write.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fercheung · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

你(nǐ)能(néng)告(gào)诉(sù)我(wǒ)“年(nián)老(lǎo)”的(de)“老(lǎo)”字(zì)的(de)笔(bǐ)顺(shùn)吗(ma)？

Could you tell me the stroke order of the character "lǎo" in the word "niánlǎo"?

Tatoeba: Chinese by jan_OkulaJu · English by jan_OkulaJu · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with ZExplore words in context