其

其 U+5176, 其 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5176 ← 兵 [U+5175] CJK Unified Ideographs 具 → [U+5177]

Stroke order

Stroke order

其 (Kangxi radical 12, 八+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 廿一一金 (TMMC), four-corner 4480₁, composition ⿴共𠄠)

• 倛 掑 唭 帺 猉 淇 娸 㙋 𡸷 㥍 騏 (骐) 琪 棋 𤊄 𦝁 祺 稘 䃆 褀 蜞 粸 綨 𦓿 䑴 踑 諆 𧯯 𨡨 錤 (𫓹) 鯕 (鲯) 鶀 麒 䶞
• 剘 𨛺 斯 期 欺 㪸 䫏 𤻓 䳢 𤿺 萁 箕 㐞 基 棊 朞 惎 㫷 碁 蜝 綦 諅 㠱 魌 旗 𣗍 簸 𫯔 𨿣

• 甚

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 127, character 18
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1472
• Dae Jaweon: page 286, character 10
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 245, character 1
• Unihan data for U+5176

Cognate with Manchu ᠊ᠴᡳ (-ci).

其 (-qi)

1. Used to form the ablative case.

• “The Only Known Text from Bala, an Extinct Tungusic Language”, in Studia Orientalia Electronica‎^[1], volume 9, number 1, 2021, pages 173–191

simp. and trad.		其
2nd round simp.		⿱卄人
alternative forms		丌 ancient 亓 𢍌 𠀠 ancient

In the oracle bone script, it was originally 𠀠, a pictogram (象形) of a basket.

In the bronze inscriptions, 丌 was added under the basket to represent a stand. It may also have acted as a phonetic component. Hence, the modified version was 𠔝. See also the bottom component of 眞.

Later borrowed for an Old Chinese pronoun. The derivative 箕 (OC *kɯ) refers to the original word.

third-person possessive pronoun

Schuessler (2007) notes its origin is not certain because in the linguistic area pronouns tend to be of the shape KV (K=velar stop; V=vowel). Perhaps Sino-Tibetan; compare Mizo khi (“that”), Tibetan -ཀྱི, -གྱི (-kyi, -gyi, genitive suffix), but a Tibeto-Burman /a/ should be expected in this set. Alternatively, Proto-Austroasiatic *ki/ke ~ *ku/ko (third person pronoun) whose earliest form is perhaps *kɨ (Pinnow, 1965) appears to be phonologically closest to the OC word. 其 (OC *ɡɯ) may be related to 渠 (OC *ɡa, “he”).

modal particle "should; probably"

Probably cognate with 期 (OC *ɡɯ, “stipulated time; time”), 期 (OC *kɯ, “year”) (Serruys, 1982).

其

1. his; her; its; their

   各司其職／各司其职  ―  gèsīqízhí  ―  each person performs his own function

   • 子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子曰：「父在，观其志；父没，观其行；三年无改于父之道，可谓孝矣。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zǐ yuē: “Fù zài, guān qí zhì; fù mò, guān qí xíng; sān nián wú gǎi yú fù zhī dào, kěwèi xiào yǐ.” [Pinyin]

     The Master said, "While a man's father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct. If for three years he does not alter from the way of his father, he may be called filial."

   • 臣弒其君可乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     臣弑其君可乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE

     Chén shì qí jūn kě hū? [Pinyin]

     May a minister then put his sovereign to death?

   • 甘橘，大厘城有之，其味酸。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Tang Dynasty, Fan Chuo, Manshu, chapter 7, part 7

     Gānjú, Dàlí chéng yǒu zhī, qí wèi suān. [Pinyin]

     Dali City has sweet tangerines, but their flavour is sour.

2. he; she; it; they; one

   投其所好  ―  tóuqísuǒhào  ―  to adapt to somebody's taste (lit. to cater to that which one likes)

3. that; those

   • 臣竊以為其人勇士，有智謀。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     臣窃以为其人勇士，有智谋。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Chén qiè yǐwèi qí rén yǒngshì, yǒu zhìmóu. [Pinyin]

     In my humble opinion that person is brave and wise.

   • 惑而不從師，其為惑也，終不解矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     惑而不从师，其为惑也，终不解矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 8th–9th century, 韓愈 (Han Yu), 師說 (Shīshuō)

     Huò ér bù cóngshī, qí wéi huò yě, zhōng bù jiě yǐ. [Pinyin]

     If one is confused yet does not learn from a teacher, those doubts can never be cleared.

4. (literary) among which; therein

   • 寺僧使小僮持斧，於亂石間，擇其一二叩之，硿硿然。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     寺僧使小僮持斧，于乱石间，择其一二叩之，硿硿然。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1084, 蘇軾 (Su Shi), 石鐘山記

     Sìsēng shǐ xiǎotóng chí fǔ, yú luànshí jiān, zé qí yī'èr kòu zhī, kōngkōng rán. [Pinyin]

     The temple monk let his young servant hold an axe, and among the rocks pick one or two spots and strike at them. A sonorous sound was produced.

5. (literary) probably; perhaps

   Synonyms: 大概 (dàgài), 或許／或许 (huòxǔ)

   • 知進退存亡而不失其正者，其唯聖人乎！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     知进退存亡而不失其正者，其唯圣人乎！ [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: I Ching, 11^th – 8^th century BCE

     Zhī jìntuì cúnwáng ér bù shī qí zhèng zhě, qí wéi shèngrén hū! [Pinyin]

     The person who knows to advance and to retire, to maintain and to let perish, without ever acting incorrectly, can probably only be the sage!

   • 子曰：「不怨天，不尤人。下學而上達。知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子曰：「不怨天，不尤人。下学而上达。知我者，其天乎！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, Wiktionary translation

     Zǐyuē: “Bù yuàn tiān, bù yóu rén. Xià xué ér shàng dá. Zhī wǒ zhě, qí tiān hū!” [Pinyin]

     The Master replied, "I do not murmur against Heaven. I do not grumble against men. My studies lie low, and my penetration rises high. There is probably only Heaven who knows me!"

   • 微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     微管仲，吾其被发左衽矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, Wiktionary translation

     Wēi Guǎn Zhòng, wú qí pīfàzuǒrèn yǐ. [Pinyin]

     But without Guan Zhong, we should now be wearing our hair unbound, and the lappets of our coats buttoning on the left side.

   • 是故聖益聖，愚益愚，聖人之所以為聖，愚人之所以為愚，其皆出於此乎！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     是故圣益圣，愚益愚，圣人之所以为圣，愚人之所以为愚，其皆出于此乎！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 8th–9th century, 韓愈 (Han Yu), 師說 (Shīshuō)

     Shìgù shèng yì shèng, yú yì yú, shèngrén zhīsuǒyǐ wèi shèng, yúrén zhīsuǒyǐ wèi yú, qí jiē chū yú cǐ hū! [Pinyin]

     Thus saints become more saintly, and fools become more foolish. The fact that saints become saintly and fools become foolish perhaps entirely originates from this!

6. (obsolete) particle indicating intention; let, shall, will

   • 吾其奔也。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Wú qí bēn yě. [Pinyin]

     I had better flee.

   • 堯曰：「吾其試哉。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     尧曰：「吾其试哉。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Yáo yuē: “Wú qí shì zāi.” [Pinyin]

     "Let me test him," said Yao.

   • 子其行矣，我其歸死。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子其行矣，我其归死。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Zǐ qí xíng yǐ, wǒ qí guī sǐ. [Pinyin]

     Please leave, my brother! I will heed the summon and meet my death.

7. (literary) adverb indicating a rhetorical question

   Synonyms: 豈／岂 (qǐ), 難道／难道 (nándào)

   • 若火之燎于原，不可向邇，其猶可撲滅？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     若火之燎于原，不可向迩，其犹可扑灭？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE

     Ruò huǒ zhī liáo yú yuán, bùkěxiàng'ěr, qí yóu kě pūmiè? [Pinyin]

     When a fire is blazing in the flames so that it cannot be approached, can it still be beaten out?

   • 晉不可啟，寇不可玩；一之謂甚，其可再乎！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     晋不可启，寇不可玩；一之谓甚，其可再乎！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Jìn bùkě qǐ, kòu bùkě wán; yī zhī wèi shèn, qí kě zài hū! [Pinyin]

     The greed of Jin is not to be triggered; robbers are not to be ignored. Once is already too much; how can there be a second occurrence?

   • 國無主，其能久乎？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     国无主，其能久乎？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Guó wú zhǔ, qí néng jiǔ hū? [Pinyin]

     Without a monarch, how can a state last long?

   • 嗚呼！其真無馬邪？ [MSC, trad.]
     呜呼！其真无马邪？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 8th–9th century, 韓愈 (Han Yu), 馬說

     Wūhū! Qí zhēn wú mǎ yé? [Pinyin]

     Alas! Is there really no thousand-li horse?

8. (literary) adverb indicating imperative

   • 吾子其無廢先君之功！ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     吾子其无废先君之功！ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Wúzǐ qí wú fèi xiānjūn zhī gōng! [Pinyin]

     Do not you, my friend, nullify his merit!

   • 子其勉之。吾不復見子矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子其勉之。吾不复见子矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Zǐ qí miǎn zhī. Wú bù fù jiàn zǐ yǐ. [Pinyin]

     Work hard! I shall not see you again.

   • 秦王使人謂安陵君曰：「寡人欲以五百里之地易安陵，安陵君其許寡人！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     秦王使人谓安陵君曰：「寡人欲以五百里之地易安陵，安陵君其许寡人！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE

     Qín wáng shǐ rén wèi Ānlíng Jūn yuē: “Guǎrén yù yǐ wǔbǎi lǐ zhī dì yì Ānlíng, Ānlíng Jūn qí xǔ guǎrén!” [Pinyin]

     The king of Qin dispatched envoys to tell Anling Jun, "I would like to exchange five hundred li of land for Anling. Please accept my offer!"

9. (obsolete) if

   • 湯其無郼，武其無岐，賢雖十全，不能成功。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     汤其无郼，武其无岐，贤虽十全，不能成功。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

     Tāng qí wú Yī, Wǔ qí wú Qí, xián suī shíquán, bùnéng chénggōng. [Pinyin]

     If Tang did not have Yi, if Wu did not have Qi, even though they were perfectly capable, they would not have been able to succeed.

10. (obsolete) conjunction indicating a question with choices; or

    • 今老邪？其欲干酒肉之味邪？其寡人亦有社稷之福邪？ [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

      From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

      Jīn lǎo yé? Qí yù gān jiǔròu zhī wèi yé? Qí guǎrén yì yǒu shèjì zhī fú yé? [Pinyin]

      Are you now old? Or are you seeking the taste of wine and meat? Or may I enjoy the happiness derived from the spirits of the altars of the Land and Grain?

    • 晏子避席曰：「請飲而後辭乎？其辭而後飲乎？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      晏子避席曰：「请饮而后辞乎？其辞而后饮乎？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3^rd century BCE

      Yànzǐ bìxí yuē: “Qǐng yǐn érhòu cí hū? Qí cí érhòu yǐn hū?” [Pinyin]

      Yanzi stood up from his seat and asked, "Should I drink the cup of wine before explaining? Or should I explain before drinking the cup of wine?"

11. (Eastern Min or obsolete) possessive particle.

    • 孟侯，朕其弟，小子封。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

      From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE

      Mèng hóu, zhèn qí dì, xiǎozǐ Fēng. [Pinyin]

      Foremost among princes, my brother, Feng the young one!

12. a surname

其

1. (obsolete) Used at the end of a sentence to show doubt.

   • 夜如何其？ [Literary Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Yè rúhé jī? [Pinyin]

     How goes the night?

   • 征夫懷往路，起視夜何其？ [MSC, trad.]
     征夫怀往路，起视夜何其？ [MSC, simp.]

     From: 蘇武 Su Wu, 《詩四首》"Four Poems" No. 3, included in 文選 Selections of Refined Literature

     Zhēngfū huái wǎnglù, qǐ shì yè hé jī? [Pinyin]

     This traveler, thinking of the road ahead, rises to see how the night goes.

2. (obsolete) Used in personal names.

   酈食其／郦食其  ―  Lì Yìjī  ―  Li Yiji (an advisor to Liu Bang)

• Vietnamese: cơ

其

1. (archaic) Only used in 彼其.

• (Hakka) Lau, Chun-fat. Hakka Pinyin Dictionary (Chinese). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 1997 (Chinese IME supplement) →ISBN.
• (Min Nan) “Entry #3600”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.
• “其”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[2], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00292

(Jinmeiyō kanji)

• Go-on: ぎ (gi)、ご (go)
• Kan-on: き (ki)
• Kun: その (sono, 其の)、それ (sore, 其れ)、それ (sore, 其)、し (shi, 其)
• Nanori: その (sono)

• 其(そ)れ (sore)
• 其(そ)の (sono)
• 其(そ)処(こ) (soko)
• 其(そ)方(ちら) (sochira)
• 其(そ)れ共(とも) (soretomo)

Kanji in this term
其
し Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

其(し) • (shi) 

1. (archaic) that
2. you
3. oneself

From Middle Chinese 其 (MC gi).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ki]
• Phonetic hangul: [기]

Wikisource

其 (eumhun 그 기 (geu gi))

1. (literary) hanja form^? of 기 (“therein”)
2. (literary) hanja form^? of 기 (“his; her; its; their”)
   • 1895, “第五課 世宗大王”, in 국민소학독본(國民小學讀本) (gungminsohakdokbon):

     外國(외국)에ᄂᆞᆫ 다 其(기) 國(국) 文字(문자)ㅣ 有(유)ᄒᆞ되 我國(아국)에ᄂᆞᆫ 無(무)ᄒᆞ다 ᄒᆞ샤 訓民正音(훈민정음)을 지으시고

     wōy.kwuk-eynon tā ki kwuk mwun.ca-i yū-hotoy ā.kwuk-eynon mwu-hota hosya Hwūn.min.ceng.um-ul cīusikwo

     [He] created the Hunmin Jeongeum as other countries had its own writing system but our country did not

3. (literary) hanja form^? of 기 (“that; those”)
   • 1914, 나혜석, 이상적 부인:

     其(기) 時代(시대)의 先覺者(선각자)가 되어 […]

     gi sidae-ui seon-gakjaga doeeo

     Becoming the pioneer of that era […]

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

其: Hán Nôm readings: kì, kỳ, cà, khởi

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