咫

zhǐ

只 + 尺

Definitions

zhǐ 8 in. length unit of Zhou dynasty

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 尺 represents the meaning and 只 represents the sound.

Semantic: 尺 Phonetic: 只

About

The character 咫 (zhǐ) is a phono-semantic compound. It uses the measure radical 尺 (chǐ, "ruler") to indicate a meaning related to length, while the component 只 (zhǐ) provides the pronunciation. Historically, 咫 denoted a short unit of measurement, roughly eight inches or the length of a woman's forearm, distinct from the standard ten-inch "chi". Because it represents a small distance, the character later came to mean extreme closeness and often appears in compounds describing nearness.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们相隔咫尺。

Wǒmen xiāng gé zhǐchǐ.

We are separated by a short distance.

距离仅有咫尺。

Jùlí jǐn yǒu zhǐchǐ.

The distance is only a short span.

咫尺的路程很快走完。

Zhǐchǐ de lùchéng hěn kuài zǒu wán.

The short distance is quickly walked.

他家离商店咫尺之遥。

Tā jiā lí shāngdiàn zhǐchǐ zhī yáo.

His home is just a short distance from the store.

在咫尺范围内建立公园。

Zài zhǐchǐ fànwéi nèi jiànlì gōngyuán.

Establish a park within a short distance.

这座图书馆位于咫尺可达的街区。

Zhè zuò túshūguǎn wèiyú zhǐchǐ kě dá de jiēqū.

This library is located in a neighborhood within short reach.

虽然两人住所咫尺相邻，却很少见面。

Suīrán liǎng rén zhùsuǒ zhǐchǐ xiānglín, què hěn shǎo jiànmiàn.

Although their residences are adjacent at a short distance, they rarely meet.

现代交通使得天涯海角变为咫尺之间。

Xiàndài jiāotōng shǐdé tiānyá hǎijiǎo biàn wéi zhǐchǐ zhī jiān.

Modern transportation turns faraway places into a short distance apart.

Related Characters

Component: 只

Component: 尺

咫