Chinese character for wisdom: 智 (zhì)
The Chinese character for wisdom is 智 (zhì). It means wisdom and intelligence, and appears in 智慧 (zhìhuì, wisdom) and 智力 (zhìlì, intellect). It is one of the classic Confucian virtues.
How 智 is built
智 has 知 (zhī, to know) on top and 日 (rì, sun or day) below. 知 also gives the sound. As a memory aid, wisdom is knowledge that is as clear as daylight, or knowing built up day after day. 知 itself is made of 矢 (an arrow) and 口 (a mouth), often remembered as speaking as straight and quick as an arrow. 智 is the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
智 zhì · wisdom
- 知zhī — to know
- 矢shǐ — arrow
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 天tiān — sky
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 矢shǐ — arrow
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
Origin hint: Known 知 clearly 日; 知 also provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
How 智 is used
Other ways to say wisdom
- 智慧 zhìhuì — two-character word for wisdom, the most natural noun
- 慧 huì — insight, intelligence; common in names
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 智 is identical in both scripts; 智慧 reads more naturally as the noun 'wisdom' if you have room for two characters.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for wisdom?
智 (zhì) means “wisdom”.
How do you pronounce 智?
智 is pronounced zhì.