字 字源HanziOrigin
中文EnglishFrançaisEspañolالعربيةРусский
气
qì
steam
At a glance · 气

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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.

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

「气」甲骨文象云气舒卷之形，小篆作气，与「氣」不同。

What the sketch shows

气 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「气」本义为云气、气息，引申空气、气味、天气。

Structure

象形字，象云气流行之形，本为气体、气息。

At a glance

Pinyinqì
Radical气
Strokes4
UnicodeU+6C14
Character type象形
Theme自然

Six languages, one character

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

English steam steam, vapor; Kangxi radical 84
Français souffle / air Souffle, air. «同气连枝» : le même souffle (parents).
Español aliento / aire Aliento, aire. «同气连枝»: el mismo aliento (padres).
العربية نَفَس / هواء نَفَس، هواء. «同气连枝»: النَّفَس نفسه (الوالدان).
Русский дыхание / воздух Дыхание, воздух. «同气连枝»: то же дыхание (родители).

Common words

  • 空气kōng qìair
  • 天气tiān qìweather

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