Zi:知

From Wenlin Dictionaries

[zhī] (知​ zhīdao) know; 知​ zhīshi knowledge [zhì] ​ wisdom/intelligence/knowledge; (HDZ:) …

2 monosyllabic entries in The ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary (namespace Ci):

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The Shuōwén Seal form of 知 zhī/zhì ‘know/knowledge’ combines ​(​𠙵) kǒu ‘mouth/words’, and ​ shǐ ‘arrow’ (phonosemantic).
    Note: In 知, the right-side component ​ kǒu ‘mouth’ functions as in ​ yòu ‘right hand’, the strong/dominant hand which (with the ​ help of the left hand holding the bow handle) is able to draw the string/arrow to the archer's nose/mouth/cheek, aiming carefully/skillfully to hit the target; the right-side component ​ shǐ ‘arrow’ functions as in ​(​𥏂𥏴𥐃𥏃) jí ‘quick/urgent’: thoughts are quick/instant, knowledge is urgent/critical (XK); cf. ​, in which ​ shǐ (phonosemantic); old forms of ​(​𥏼) and ​(​𥏴𥐃𥏃𠥻) are similar.
    Compare: ​(​𥏼𥏾) zhì ‘wisdom (knowing words)’, in which 知 zhī/zhì (phonosemantic); ​ was formerly wr. ​𥏾, with ​𦣞(​𦣝) yí ‘jaws/chin/cheeks’ (as in ​), not ​ ‘mouth/words’; in SW the glosses of ​/知 are very similar if not syn. (知​, vs. ​), the old syllables/meanings were very similar, and in old texts the two characters were often used interchangeably (DYC); 知 was formerly also wr. ​𢇻, and ​𥎿/​𥎵 (with ​/​/​, not simply ​).
    Compare: 知 zhī ← MC /ʈie/; ​ zhì ← MC /ʈies/; ​ shǐ ← MC /ɕieiʔ/; ​ jí ← MC /dziet/ (SBGY)
    Compare: ​ zhì (n.) ‘wisdom’ (tone 4), vs. 知 zhī (v.) ‘know’ (tone 1); in modern usage the tones are different, but ​/知 were often used interchangeably in old texts (DYC); the old ​(​𪞶𦣹) zì ‘nose/self’ component of ​(​𥏼) may have been intended to specify the nominal form/meaning; cf. ​.
    “[知] Know, understand, perceive — ‘to ​ speak so as to ​ hit the mark’, says the scholastic commentator” —Karlgren(AD).
    Compare: ​/​ zhì ‘(royal) banner/flag; know (duty)’; ​(​𢗍) zhì ‘will/intent’.
    HDZ: 知 : zhī : 知​ (​知​, ​知​); 知​, ​; 知​, ​ (知​); ​使知​, ​知 (​知, 知​, 知​); ​, ​; ​, ​; ​, ​; ​, ​; ​, ​; ​, ​; ​, ​; 知​, 知​; ​; ​; ​, ​; (​); ​ • zhì : ​: ​; ​: ​; (​)
►references: Guǎngyùn:049.05; Wieger:131e; Henshall:169; Karlgren:AD1218,GSR863a; Hànyǔ Dà Zìdiǎn:4.2581.2; Mathews:932; Kāngxī Zìdiǎn:824.01; Bǐshùn Guīfàn:081.1.09; Wáng(1993):154; EDOC:1
►components:
►Cantonese: ji\ ji-
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Unicode: U+77E5
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