星 xīng — a star · English

星

xīng

a star

At a glance · 星

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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.

「星」甲骨文从日（或〇）从生，象群星在天，小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「星」本义为星宿、星辰，引申星斗、明星、星号。

Structure

从晶（或日）、从生，会意字，生表音，象众星，本为星辰。

At a glance

Pinyinxīng

Radical日

Strokes9

UnicodeU+661F

Character type象形

Theme天文

Six languages, one character

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

English a star a star, planet; any point of light; 25th lunar mansion, determinative star α Hydrae (Alphard)

Français étoile Étoile. «弁转疑星» : les étoiles.

Español estrella Estrella. «弁转疑星»: las estrellas.

العربية نجم نجم. «弁转疑星»: النجوم.

Русский звезда Звезда. «弁转疑星»: звёзды.

Common words

星星xīng xīngstar
星空xīng kōngstarry sky

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