Every Chinese character has a story
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字

字 (zì) Chinese Character: written character; word

6 strokes · HSK 1 · Radical 子

A child 子 grows under a roof 宀, like a written character learned and passed on.

Practice 字 in the interactive lesson

Chinese character story: A Character Growing Under a Roof

字 (zì) is the word learners need when talking about written Chinese. 汉字 means “Chinese character,” 名字 means “name,” and 这个字 means “this character.” English may translate 字 as “character,” “letter,” or sometimes “word,” depending on context. The roof-and-child structure gives a helpful memory story: a written form is raised and taught under a roof until it becomes part of the language.

🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes

Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.

汉字
汉Han Chinese字written character=Chinese character
名字
名name字written label=name

Chinese character origin and etymology

字 combines 宀 with 子 and originally related to giving birth or nurturing a child. Its meaning later developed into a written character, a name, or a written symbol that grows within the language.

The roof 宀 covers 子, “child,” in a balanced six-stroke top-and-bottom form. 字 contains 宀 and 子. These parts act like clues: a component may suggest a meaning category, a pronunciation, or simply preserve part of the character's historical structure.

Chinese character stroke order and structure

字 is written with 6 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.

  • 宀 — roof or shelter — the place where something is raised
  • 子 — child — the older birth and nurturing idea

Common usage and sentence patterns

The examples below show 字 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.

这个字怎么读？ Zhège zì zěnme dú? How do you read this character?
你的名字怎么写？ Nǐ de míngzi zěnme xiě? How do you write your name?
我学习汉字。 Wǒ xuéxí Hànzì. I study Chinese characters.

Learning tips for 字

Learn the reading as one unit: zì, with the fourth tone: a sharp fall. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “written character; word,” and write the 6 strokes from memory.

Because 字 contains reusable components, identify those clues before memorizing the whole shape. Compare it with 名 (míng, name); 子 (zǐ, child); 学 (xué, to learn). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.

Quick review checklist

  • Can you recognize 字 without pinyin?
  • Can you say zì with the correct tone and explain “written character; word”?
  • Can you write all 6 strokes in order?
  • Can you use 字 in one short sentence?

Related characters

Continue learning Chinese characters

Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.

Sources and editorial note

HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.

Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.