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眦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眦zìeye socket; the corner of the eyeg, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #76690, Very Hard
眦zìcorner of the eyeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #76690, Very Hard
眦zìcanthusunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目, rank #76690, Very Hard
zì(zi4) T4
  1. 1eye socket; the corner of the eye
  2. 2corner of the eye
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

眦(眥)zì(zi4)

The character 眦 (zì) refers to the corner of the eye or the eye socket. It is often used in anatomical contexts or literary descriptions, emphasizing the delicate features of the eyes and their expressions. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in poetry or traditional Chinese medicine texts.

Strokes11Radical目Frequency#76690DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the eyes are considered windows to the soul and health, making the understanding of concepts like 眦 important in holistic practices. The expression of emotions through eye movements is deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny 'Z' at the corner of your eye, where tears might gather. The character 眦 has components that resemble a pair of eyes (目) and a 'mouth' (子), suggesting the emotional expressions that come from the eyes and how they convey feelings.

Meanings of 眦

zì(zi4)
1eye socket; the corner of the eye
2corner of the eye
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 眦

眦Simplified
眥Traditional
11Strokes
目Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眦

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Podcast: 眦

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AI Study Notes for 眦

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 眦 with other eye-related terms, so it's essential to pay attention to context. This term is more formal and may not be used in everyday speech, but can appear in literature or medical contexts. Ensure proper pronunciation, as misplacing tones can alter meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 眦 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, understanding this word can enhance your comprehension of more complex texts. Focus on recognizing its usage in classical literature or specific contexts involving anatomy or poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners might incorrectly use 眦 to refer to the entire eye rather than just the corners. For example, saying '我看见她的眦' (Wǒ kànjiàn tā de zì) to mean 'I saw her eye' is incorrect; instead, use '我看见她的眼睛' (Wǒ kànjiàn tā de yǎnjīng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眦

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Etymology of 眦

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

eye

Semantic (meaning)目
+
Phonetic (sound)此
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 眦

  1. 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half此 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayeye
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 眦? 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 眦?

Decomposition of 眦

IDS Structure⿰目此
眦Full Character
=
目mu4
left
此ci3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 眦?

How to say eye socket; the corner of the eye in Chinese

“eye socket; the corner of the eye” in Chinese is眦zì

The character 眦 (zì) refers to the corner of the eye or the eye socket. It is often used in anatomical contexts or literary descriptions, emphasizing the delicate features of the eyes and their expressions. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in poetry or traditional Chinese medicine texts.

When to use 眦

Learners often confuse 眦 with other eye-related terms, so it's essential to pay attention to context. This term is more formal and may not be used in everyday speech, but can appear in literature or medical contexts. Ensure proper pronunciation, as misplacing tones can alter meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners might incorrectly use 眦 to refer to the entire eye rather than just the corners. For example, saying '我看见她的眦' (Wǒ kànjiàn tā de zì) to mean 'I saw her eye' is incorrect; instead, use '我看见她的眼睛' (Wǒ kànjiàn tā de yǎnjīng).

Write 眦

眦

Practice writing 眦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 眦

Words Containing This Character2
眦zìcanthus眥
发指眦裂in a towering rage髮指眥裂
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 眦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眦

It is pronounced as 'zì', with a falling tone.

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