次 cì — order · English

次

cì

order

At a glance · 次

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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.

「次」甲骨文从二从冫，象临时止息处，金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「次」本义为次序、其次，引申停留、次第、差。

Structure

从二、从冫，会意字，象次舍，本为临时止息、次序。

At a glance

Pinyincì

Radical欠

Strokes6

UnicodeU+6B21

Character type会意

Theme数术

Six languages, one character

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

English order order, sequence; next

Français ordre / soudain Ordre, soudain. «造次弗离» : à l'improviste.

Español orden / súbito Orden, súbito. «造次弗离»: de improvisto.

العربية نظام / فجأة نظام، فجأة. «造次弗离»: على حين غرة.

Русский порядок / внезапно Порядок, внезапно. «造次弗离»: внезапно, нежданно.

Common words

次序cì xùorder
次数cì shùtimes

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