Meanings of 咫
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About 咫
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Podcast: 咫
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AI study notes for 咫
咫 is rarely used in modern conversation and is more common in classical literature. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters like '指' (zhǐ), which means 'to point.' This character is more formal and should be used in literary contexts.
While 咫 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other historical terms and measurements. Students should focus on understanding how ancient measures relate to modern concepts of distance.
Learners often confuse 咫 with other measurement-related characters like '寸' (cùn) or '米' (mǐ). For example, saying '我有五咫的长度' (Wǒ yǒu wǔ zhǐ de chángdù) is incorrect; it should be '我有五寸的长度' (Wǒ yǒu wǔ cùn de chángdù) for modern measurements.
Pronunciation of 咫
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 咫
Phonosemantic compound. 尺 represents the meaning and 只 represents the sound.
ruler
Origin
咫 = 尺 + 只. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咫
Parts
Which of these is part of 咫?
How to say unit of length used during the Zhou dynasty in Chinese
“unit of length used during the Zhou dynasty” in Chinese is咫
The character 咫 (zhǐ) refers to an ancient unit of length used during the Zhou dynasty, specifically equivalent to about 8 inches. It is often used in literary or historical contexts to evoke the past and can symbolize distance or measurement in a figurative sense.
When to use 咫
咫 is rarely used in modern conversation and is more common in classical literature. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters like '指' (zhǐ), which means 'to point.' This character is more formal and should be used in literary contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 咫 with other measurement-related characters like '寸' (cùn) or '米' (mǐ). For example, saying '我有五咫的长度' (Wǒ yǒu wǔ zhǐ de chángdù) is incorrect; it should be '我有五寸的长度' (Wǒ yǒu wǔ cùn de chángdù) for modern measurements.
Write 咫
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Practice writing 咫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 咫
咫 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 2 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他意识到阿富汗人近在____尺。
He became aware of the proximity of the Afghans.
Example sentences for 咫 (2)
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Word Family of 咫
Words with 咫
What does 近在咫尺 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 咫
No, it is primarily used in historical or literary contexts.
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