岐

qí

山 + 支

Definitions

qí surname Qi; also used in place names

qí variant of 歧[qí]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 支 represents the sound.

Semantic: 山 Phonetic: 支

About

The character 岐 is a phonosemantic compound: 山 (mountain) gives the meaning, and 支 (branch) provides the sound while also suggesting the idea of splitting. It first described a mountain with multiple peaks or a path that branches off in different directions. Over time, this concrete sense of diverging paths extended to abstract differences in viewpoints or wrong turns, as reflected in the compound 歧途 (qítú, a divergent or wrong road).

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我去过岐山一次。

Wǒ qù guò Qíshān yī cì.

I have been to Qishan once.

岐山是陕西的一个县。

Qíshān shì Shǎnxī de yī gè xiàn.

Qishan is a county in Shaanxi.

前面有两条岐路。

Qiánmiàn yǒu liǎng tiáo qílù.

There are two forked roads ahead.

我们在岐路口犹豫不决。

Wǒmen zài qílùkǒu yóuyù bù jué.

We are hesitant at the fork in the road.

岐山是周朝的发源地。

Qíshān shì Zhōucháo de fāyuándì.

Qishan is the birthplace of the Zhou Dynasty.

虽然岐路很多，但我们选择了正确的一条。

Suīrán qílù hěn duō, dàn wǒmen xuǎnzé le zhèngquè de yī tiáo.

Although there are many forked roads, we chose the correct one.

人生常常面临岐途。

Rénshēng chángcháng miànlín qítú.

Life often faces forks in the road.

在岐山的旅行让我了解了中国古代历史。

Zài Qíshān de lǚxíng ràng wǒ liǎojiě le Zhōngguó gǔdài lìshǐ.

The trip to Qishan allowed me to learn about ancient Chinese history.

Related Characters

Component: 山

Component: 支

岐