zhǐ

foot measure of Zhou dynasty

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
尺 meaning component

  Meaning component

chǐchě

  

traditional Chinese unit of length ~ 1 foot

只 sound component

  Sound component

zhǐzhī

  

only

Evolution

咫 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
咫 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

zhǐ

foot measure of Zhou dynasty; 8 in. length unit of Zhou dynasty

Most common words with 咫
Freq.
Word
Meaning

近在咫尺

to be almost within reach

咫尺

very close

咫尺天涯

so close, yet worlds apart (idiom)

8 in. length unit of Zhou dynasty