Chinese Characters

棋

PINYIN

qí

Main meanings:

①board game.

HSK - 5

STROKES - 12

RADICAL - 木

Elements: wood 木 + basket 其. Phonetic series: 其

Wooden 木 pieces kept in a basket 其; it stresses that during the festivals people have time to enjoy playing board games.

Main Words:

棋子 qízǐ board-game piece.
下棋 xiàqí play chess
象棋 xiàngqí Chinese chess.
围棋 wéiqí Japanese go.

Most of the etymologists consider that in this character 其 qi has only phonetic value, but I think that it has both phonetic and semantic value, and that this kind of character was used suggesting that during ceremonies and festivals (with offerings carried in a basket) people have free time to enjoy board games.

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