写 xiě — write · English

写

xiě

write

At a glance · 写

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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 seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

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.

「写」繁体「寫」从宀舄声，小篆从宀寫声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「写」本义为移置、倾泻，引申书写、描画、抄写。

Structure

从宀、舄(xiè)声，形声字，本为置物、泻，后指书写描画。简作写。

At a glance

Pinyinxiě

Radical冖

Strokes5

UnicodeU+5199

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English write write; draw, sketch; compose

Français dépeindre / écrire Dépeindre, écrire. «图写禽兽» : représenter.

Español representar / escribir Representar, escribir. «图写禽兽»: representar.

العربية يمثّل / يكتب يمثّل، يكتب. «图写禽兽»: تصوير.

Русский изображать / писать Изображать, писать. «图写禽兽»: изображать.

Common words

写字xiě zìwrite
写作xiě zuòwrite

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