兹
this, now
At a glance · 兹
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
甲骨文、金文象两束丝或草木丛生之形，象形，本指草木滋盛。假借为「此、今」。隶楷作「茲」，简化作「兹」。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「兹」本指草木繁生，假借为代词「这、现在」。
Structure
象形字，象草木滋长之形；假借为近指代词。
At a glance
Pinyinzī
Radical丷
Strokes9
UnicodeU+5179
Character type象形
Theme虚词
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
this, now
This, these; now (archaic).
Français
ceci, maintenant
Ceci, ces; maintenant (archaïque).
Español
esto, ahora
Esto, estas; ahora (arcaico).
العربية
هذا، الآن
هذا أو الآن (قديمًا).
Русский
это, ныне
Это, эти; ныне (устар.).
Common words
- 兹zīthis
- 今兹jīn zīthis year