吹 chuī — blow · English

吹

chuī

blow

At a glance · 吹

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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.

「吹」从口从欠，甲骨文象人吹气，金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「吹」本义为合拢嘴唇吐气，引申吹奏、夸口。

Structure

从口、从欠，会意字，象张口出气，本为吹气、吹奏。

At a glance

Pinyinchuī

Radical口

Strokes7

UnicodeU+5439

Character type会意

Theme礼乐

Six languages, one character

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

English blow blow; puff; brag, boast

Français souffler / jouer Souffler, jouer. «鼓瑟吹笙» : souffler le sheng.

Español soplar / tocar Soplar, tocar. «鼓瑟吹笙»: soplar el sheng.

العربية ينفخ / يعزف ينفخ، يعزف. «鼓瑟吹笙»: النفخ في شِنغ.

Русский дуть / играть Дуть, играть. «鼓瑟吹笙»: дуть в шэн.

Common words

吹chuīblow
吹风chuī fēngbe in draft

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