Definitions

zhí (noun) value; worth
zhí (verb) to be worth
zhí (verb) to be on duty
zhí (verb) to happen to

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "值" in its traditional form consists of the semantic component 亻, representing a person, combined with the phonetic and semantic component 直, meaning straight or upright. Its earliest meanings centered on the idea of encountering or facing something directly, which extended to the concept of a person taking their turn or being positioned straight on duty, hence its use to mean "to be on duty" or "to happen to". From this sense of a person standing in correct alignment for a specific role or task, the character developed its dominant modern abstract meaning of "value" or "worth", conveying the idea of something being equivalent to or measuring up correctly to a standard, as in numerical value or merit.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书很得读。

Zhè běn shū hěn zhídé dú.

This book is very worth reading.

他今天在公司班。

Tā jīntiān zài gōngsī zhíbān.

He is on duty at the company today.

这个东西价很高。

Zhège dōngxī jiàzhí hěn gāo.

This thing is of high value.

我认为这不得生气。

Wǒ rènwéi zhè bù zhídé shēngqì.

I don't think this is worth getting angry about.

他的建议非常有价

Tā de jiànyì fēicháng yǒu jiàzhí.

His suggestion is very valuable.

我们要善于发现生活中的小确幸,这很得。

Wǒmen yào shànyú fāxiàn shēnghuó zhōng de xiǎo quèxìng, zhè hěn zhídé.

We should be good at discovering the small joys in life; it's very worthwhile.

这些股票在过去一年里大幅增

Zhèxiē gǔpiào zài guòqù yī nián lǐ dàfú zēngzhí.

These stocks have appreciated significantly in the past year.

这是一个得深入思考的问题。

Zhè shì yīgè zhídé shēnrù sīkǎo de wèntí.

This is a question worth thinking deeply about.