哉 zāi — final exclamatory particle · English

哉

zāi

final exclamatory particle

At a glance · 哉

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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.

小篆从口（意符，言语），才声，本义为语气词，表感叹。隶楷从口从戈（或才），形声稳定。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为句末感叹语气词。

Structure

形声字，从口（意符，言辞），才（cái）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinzāi

Radical口

Strokes9

UnicodeU+54C9

Character type形声

Theme虚词

Six languages, one character

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

English final exclamatory particle A final exclamatory particle.

Français particule exclamative finale Une particule exclamative finale.

Español partícula exclamativa final Una partícula exclamativa final.

العربية أداة تعجب نهائية أداة تعجب في نهاية الجملة.

Русский восклицательная частица Финальная восклицательная частица.

Common words

哉zāiparticle
哉zāialas

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