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March 24, 2026
姿zī(zi1)
The character 姿 (zī) refers to beauty, grace, and appearance, particularly in the context of physical looks or poise. It is often used to describe someone's demeanor or the elegance of their posture. In various contexts, it can also relate to the aesthetic quality of objects or art.
Strokes9Radical女Frequency#10773DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 姿 is significant, as beauty and grace are often associated with virtues and social status. It plays a role in art and poetry, where the depiction of beauty is celebrated.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful dancer striking a pose, her 姿 (zī) radiating beauty and elegance. The radical 女 (nǚ) meaning 'female' is present in this character, emphasizing the connection to beauty and feminine grace.
Meanings of 姿
zī(zi1)
1beauty
2disposition
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 姿
姿Simplified
9Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10773Frequency Rank
Podcast: 姿
Podcast: 姿
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AI Study Notes for 姿
Quick Contrast
姿态 (zītài) refers specifically to posture or stance, while 姿 (zī) emphasizes beauty and grace in appearance.
Usage Notes
While 姿 can refer to beauty, it is often used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '姿势' (zīshì, posture) and '姿态' (zītài, attitude). Be careful with the tone; 'zī' has a high-level tone which can be mistaken with 'zī' in another context.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in the HSK levels, 姿 can be associated with other vocabulary related to appearance and behavior. Students should focus on its usage in phrases and expressions to understand its nuances better.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 姿 with similar-sounding characters like 知 (zhī, to know) due to their tonal similarities; ensure you practice the tone. A common mistake is saying '他的姿' which should be '他的姿态' (tā de zītài, his attitude).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姿
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Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 次 represents the sound.
1The meaning half女 carries the sense.
2The sound half次 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywoman
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 姿? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 姿?
Decomposition of 姿
IDS Structure⿱次女
姿Full Character
=
次ci4
top
女nü3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 姿?
How to say beauty in Chinese
“beauty” in Chinese is姿zī
The character 姿 (zī) refers to beauty, grace, and appearance, particularly in the context of physical looks or poise. It is often used to describe someone's demeanor or the elegance of their posture. In various contexts, it can also relate to the aesthetic quality of objects or art.
When to use 姿
While 姿 can refer to beauty, it is often used in more formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include '姿势' (zīshì, posture) and '姿态' (zītài, attitude). Be careful with the tone; 'zī' has a high-level tone which can be mistaken with 'zī' in another context.
姿 or something close to it
姿态 (zītài) refers specifically to posture or stance, while 姿 (zī) emphasizes beauty and grace in appearance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 姿 with similar-sounding characters like 知 (zhī, to know) due to their tonal similarities; ensure you practice the tone. A common mistake is saying '他的姿' which should be '他的姿态' (tā de zītài, his attitude).
Write 姿
姿
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Grammar Patterns of 姿
姿 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
