Definitions

(verb) to resign; to dismiss; to decline
(verb) to take leave; to bid farewell
(noun) speech; words

Etymology

Simplified form of .

About

The character 辞 (cí) combines the speech-related radical 舌 (shé) on the left with the component 辛 (xīn) on the right. Its traditional form, 辭, was more complex and historically associated with dispute resolution or legal discourse. The core meaning revolves around language, diction, and classical literary forms like poetry. From this linguistic base, the character evolved to encompass the act of taking leave, which now commonly expresses declining, resigning, or bidding farewell.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

去了工作。

Tā cí qù le gōngzuò.

He resigned from his job.

公司退了一名员工。

Gōngsī cítuì le yī míng yuángōng.

The company dismissed an employee.

她在典礼上发表了致

Tā zài diǎnlǐ shàng fābiǎo le zhìcí.

She delivered a speech at the ceremony.

他用华丽的藻写文章。

Tā yòng huálì de cízǎo xiě wénzhāng.

He writes articles with flowery language.

他婉言谢了对方的邀请。

Tā wǎnyán cíxiè le duìfāng de yāoqǐng.

He politely declined the other party's invitation.

这篇古文措十分精妙。

Zhè piān gǔwén cuòcí shífēn jīngmiào.

The wording of this classical text is very exquisite.

他因健康原因去了所有职务。

Tā yīn jiànkāng yuányīn cí qù le suǒyǒu zhíwù.

He resigned from all his positions due to health reasons.

翻阅典是学习语言的好方法。

Fānyuè cídiǎn shì xuéxí yǔyán de hǎo fāngfǎ.

Consulting a dictionary is a good method for learning a language.