止
zhǐ
stop
At a glance · 止

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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.

止 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 止 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 止 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 止 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 止 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 止 Regular script
    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

「止」甲骨文象足趾之形,金文小篆稍变,后借为停止。

What the sketch shows

止 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「止」本为足趾象形,引申停止、举止、止息。

Structure

象形字,本象足趾,后引申为停止,又作行止、举止。

At a glance

Pinyinzhǐ
Radical止
Strokes4
UnicodeU+6B62
Character type象形
Theme动作

Six languages, one character

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

English stop stop, halt, desist; detain
Français s'arrêter / tenue S'arrêter, tenue. «容止若思» : la démarche et le port.
Español detener / porte Detener, porte. «容止若思»: el andar y el continente.
العربية يتوقف / هيئة يتوقف، هيئة. «容止若思»: المشية والوقار.
Русский останавливать / осанка Останавливать, осанка. «容止若思»: походка и стать.

Common words

  • 停止tíng zhǐstop
  • 举止jǔ zhǐbearing