致

緻

zhì

攵 + 至

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zhì (verb) to send; to deliver; to convey

zhì (verb) to cause; to lead to

zhì (adjective) fine; delicate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 至 represents the sound.

Semantic: 攵 Phonetic: 至

About

致 is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 至 (zhì), meaning "to arrive", provides the sound, while the right component 攵, depicting a hand exerting force, indicates the meaning of an action. Together, they originally signified the deliberate act of causing something to reach a destination or bringing a situation to a forceful conclusion. Over time, the character's scope broadened to encompass causing specific results, sending formal messages, devoting oneself wholeheartedly, and achieving refinement.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 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

我向他致谢。

Wǒ xiàng tā zhìxiè.

I thank him.

他致电给我。

Tā zhìdiàn gěi wǒ.

He called me.

这导致了失败。

Zhè dǎozhìle shībài.

This caused failure.

她致力于研究。

Tā zhìlì yú yánjiū.

She is devoted to research.

请致意你的老师。

Qǐng zhìyì nǐ de lǎoshī.

Please greet your teacher.

他的演讲致人深思。

Tā de yǎnjiǎng zhì rén shēnsī.

His speech leads people to deep thought.

我们必须致以崇高的敬意。

Wǒmen bìxū zhì yǐ chónggāo de jìngyì.

We must express our lofty respect.

这项政策导致了经济的变化。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè dǎozhìle jīngjì de biànhuà.

This policy caused economic changes.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 攵

Component: 至

Example Words