杞
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: Qi, a Zhou Dynasty vassal state
💡 Think: 'Qi' state had a tree (木) that made people worry needlessly.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
杞 (qǐ) refers to an ancient Zhou Dynasty vassal state located in present-day Henan province. It is most famous today in the idiom '杞人忧天' (qǐ rén yōu tiān), meaning 'the man of Qi worries about the sky falling' — a metaphor for unnecessary anxiety. The character combines 木 (wood) as the radical, suggesting a connection to trees or states, and 己 (jǐ) as a phonetic component. Though rarely used alone, 杞 appears in historical contexts and idioms.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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