止

To stop Component (止)

zhǐ · 4 strokes

The to stop component (止) is a component found in Chinese characters. In Chinese, components serve different roles: semantic elements contribute meaning, phonetic elements suggest pronunciation, and structural elements provide the character's framework. It primarily serves as a structural element in character composition. It typically appears on the top of a character. 11 characters: 1 in HSK 1, 2 in HSK 2, 3 in HSK 4, 2 in HSK 5, 3 in HSK 7-9. Components are identified through character decomposition analysis.

Radical vs. Component: 止 is also a Kangxi radical (stop). As a radical, it classifies characters in dictionaries. As a component, it appears as a building block contributing meaning, sound, or structure. For radical-specific details, see the To stop Radical (止) page.

To stop Component at a Glance

Stroke Count4
Total Characters11
Primary RoleStructural
Typical Positiontop
Most Common HSK LevelHSK 4 (3 characters)
Avg. Character Strokes7
Also a Kangxi Radical?Yes — view radical page

All To stop Component Characters

HSK 1 (1 characters)

正zhèngstraight

HSK 2 (2 characters)

走zǒuto walk步bùa step

HSK 4 (3 characters)

肯kěnwilling此cǐthis址zhǐ(bound form) site

HSK 5 (2 characters)

企qǐ(bound form) to stand on tiptoe and look齿chǐtooth

HSK 7-9 (3 characters)

耻chǐshame扯chěto pull歧qídivergent

Frequently Asked Questions

What characters contain the to stop component (止)?
There are 11 characters containing the to stop component (止) in the HSK 3.0 character set (CLEC 2022 syllabus): 1 in HSK 1, 2 in HSK 2, 3 in HSK 4, 2 in HSK 5, 3 in HSK 7-9. The most frequently used include 此 (cǐ, "this"), 正 (zhèng, "straight"), 走 (zǒu, "to walk"), 步 (bù, "a step"), 企 (qǐ, "(bound form) to stand on tiptoe and look"). Components are identified through character decomposition analysis.
Is 止 a radical or a component?
止 is both. As a Kangxi radical, 止 (stop) is part of the traditional system of 214 radicals used to classify Chinese characters in dictionaries. As a component, 止 is a building block that contributes meaning, sound, or structure to compound characters. When a character "has the to stop radical," it means 止 is the character's primary classifier. When a character "contains the to stop component," it means 止 appears in the character's decomposition, regardless of whether it serves as the primary radical.
What sound does the to stop component (止) give to characters?
When 止 serves as a phonetic element (in 4 of its 11 characters), it commonly contributes these pronunciation patterns: chi (耻); ci (此); zhi (址). Phonetic components are one of the most powerful tools for reading unfamiliar characters — if you recognize 止 in a new character, there is a good chance the pronunciation is related. Note that tones and initial consonants may vary across characters sharing the same phonetic component.
Where does 止 appear in a character?
The to stop component (止) most commonly appears on the top of a character. Full position breakdown: top (3 characters), right side (3 characters), bottom (3 characters), left side (2 characters). Knowing where a component typically sits helps with character recognition — when you see 止 in its usual position, you can quickly identify it and infer the character's meaning or pronunciation.
What HSK levels include to stop component characters?
Characters containing the to stop component (止) appear across 5 HSK levels: 1 in HSK 1, 2 in HSK 2, 3 in HSK 4, 2 in HSK 5, 3 in HSK 7-9. The largest concentration is at HSK 4 with 3 characters. Earlier HSK levels introduce the most common to stop-related characters, while advanced levels add specialized or literary terms.

Sources & Standards

Components are identified through structural decomposition analysis of characters in the HSK 3.0 Standard (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》), published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 2022 revision. Radical classifications follow the Kangxi radical system (康熙部首).