棋 qí chess
How to remember 棋: 木 tree + 其 this or that = chess. Under the tree in the park, grandpa keeps whispering this or that over his knight, the slowest player of chess in town.
Component breakdown
棋 = 木 tree + 其 this or that
- 木 tree
- 其 this or that
Under the tree in the park, grandpa keeps whispering this or that over his knight, the slowest player of chess in town.
How it is used
- A board/strategy game - 下棋 (xià qí) to play chess/Go, 象棋 (xiàngqí) Chinese chess, 围棋 (wéiqí) Go.
- 棋子 (qízǐ) = a game piece; figuratively 'a pawn' in someone's scheme.
- 举棋不定 (jǔqí-búdìng) 'holding a piece unable to decide' = to hesitate/be indecisive.
- One of the scholar's four arts: 琴棋书画 (qín-qí-shū-huà) zither, chess, calligraphy, painting.