子 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 子 (zǐ) has a rich history and etymology. It is composed of two parts: the radical 孑 (jié), which means "a single person," and a horizontal line. The radical 孑 is a pictograph of a person standing alone, while the horizontal line represents the ground. Together, these two components suggest the idea of a child as a new life coming into the world.The character 子 has been used in Chinese for thousands of years, and it has a variety of meanings. It can refer to a child, a son, a descendant, or a disciple. It can also be used as a term of endearment or respect. In addition, 子 is used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs.The character 子 is also used in other East Asian languages, such as Japanese and Korean. In Japanese, it is pronounced "ko" and has similar meanings to the Chinese character. In Korean, it is pronounced "ja" and is used to refer to a child or a son.The character 子 is a versatile and important character in Chinese and other East Asian languages. It has a rich history and etymology, and it is used in a variety of contexts.