息 xī — rest · English

息

xī

rest

At a glance · 息

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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

「息」从自从心，金文象鼻息与心，会呼吸之意。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「息」本义为呼吸，引申气息、停止、生长。

Structure

从自（鼻）、从心，会意字，呼吸由鼻由心，故从自心。

At a glance

Pinyinxī

Radical心

Strokes10

UnicodeU+606F

Character type会意

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

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

English rest rest, put stop to, end, cease

Français cesser / souffle Cesser, souffle. «川流不息» : ne s'arrête pas (le repos).

Español cesar / aliento Cesar, aliento. «川流不息»: no descansa (el flujo).

العربية يتوقف / نَفَس يتوقف، نَفَس. «川流不息»: لا يسكن.

Русский останавливаться / дыхание Останавливаться, дыхание. «川流不息»: не прекращается.

Common words

休息xiū xīrest
消息xiāo xīnews

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