旨

zhǐ

匕 + 日

Definitions

zhǐ (noun) aim; purpose; intention

zhǐ (noun) imperial decree; edict

Etymology

Depicts a spoon (匕) going into the mouth (口), conveying the original meaning "fine-tasting". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

旨 couples 匕 (bǐ, spoon) with 日, a variant of 口 (mouth), depicting a spoon bringing food to the mouth. Its earliest meaning was "fine‑tasting" or "delicious". This original sense survives in classical usage, but the character was eventually borrowed purely for its sound to write "intention", "purpose", or "decree", especially the main point of an imperial edict or a text's central idea.

Etymology Hide

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 Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

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

他的旨意很清楚。

Tā de zhǐyì hěn qīngchǔ.

His intention is very clear.

这篇文章的主旨是什么？

Zhè piān wénzhāng de zhǔzhǐ shì shénme?

What is the main point of this article?

皇帝下达了圣旨。

Huángdì xiàdále shèngzhǐ.

The emperor issued an imperial edict.

本次会议的宗旨是促进合作。

Běn cì huìyì de zōngzhǐ shì cùjìn hézuò.

The purpose of this meeting is to promote cooperation.

她不明白老师的旨意。

Tā bù míngbái lǎoshī de zhǐyì.

She doesn't understand the teacher's intention.

这项政策旨在改善民生。

Zhè xiàng zhèngcè zhǐ zài gǎishàn mínshēng.

This policy aims to improve people's livelihood.

根据公司的宗旨，我们应当诚信经营。

Gēnjù gōngsī de zōngzhǐ, wǒmen yīngdāng chéngxìn jīngyíng.

According to the company's principle, we should operate with integrity.

在历史上，圣旨具有最高的法律效力。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, shèngzhǐ jùyǒu zuì gāo de fǎlǜ xiàolì.

In history, imperial edicts had the highest legal effect.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 匕

Component: 日

Example Words