执

執

zhí

丸 + 扌

Definitions

zhí (verb) to execute; to carry out

zhí (verb) to grasp; to hold

Etymology

Simplified form of 執. Pictograph of a person with hands (丮) bound by shackles (㚔). Based on the original meaning "seize". The meaning later shifted to "wield power", "carry out", and "hold".

About

The simplified character 执 comes from the traditional 執, which originally depicted a person (丮) with hands bound by shackles (㚔), conveying the act of seizing. The traditional form combines 幸 (derived from 㚔) and 丮, while the simplified version uses the hand radical 扌 alongside 丸. Its core meaning shifted from physically capturing someone to the broader notions of holding firmly, carrying out plans, wielding authority, and stubbornly clinging to beliefs.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他执笔写下了答案。

Tā zhíbǐ xiě xià le dá'àn.

He took up the pen and wrote down the answer.

警察正在执行任务。

Jǐngchá zhèngzài zhíxíng rènwù.

The police are carrying out a mission.

他对自己的工作很执着。

Tā duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò hěn zhízhuó.

He is very dedicated to his work.

请出示你的驾驶执照。

Qǐng chūshì nǐ de jiàshǐ zhízhào.

Please show me your driver's license.

双方将签署一份执行协议。

Shuāngfāng jiāng qiānshǔ yī fèn zhíxíng xiéyì.

Both parties will sign an implementation agreement.

他固执地坚持自己的观点。

Tā gùzhí de jiānchí zìjǐ de guāndiǎn.

He stubbornly insists on his own point of view.

这个政党已经执政十年了。

Zhège zhèngdǎng yǐjīng zhízhèng shí nián le.

This political party has been in power for ten years.

她始终无法放下心中的执念。

Tā shǐzhōng wúfǎ fàng xià xīn zhōng de zhíniàn.

She has never been able to let go of the obsession in her heart.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丸

Component: 扌

Example Words