项
surname Xiang; back of neck; item; thing; term (in a mathematical formula); sum (of money)
Closest English meanings
item·term·neck
The Calligrapher — Hándān Chún 邯郸淳
Cao Wei calligrapher; author of the Zhengshi Three-Script Stone Classics in seal and clerical script.
三国魏 calligrapher (), master of seal script/clerical script — known for 《魏受禅表》. Wei kingdom (Three Kingdoms)
Cultural Story
At the Hong Gate banquet Xiang Zhuang offered to perform the sword dance, '意在沛公,' his 项 a cover for the blade meant for Liu Bang — the 项庄舞剑 that turned a feast into a trap. The 项 as neck and as item both appear in that old scene of courtesy masking intent. To read the 项 of a list or the 项 of a man was, sometimes, to read a danger held just under the surface.
Common words & phrases
- 项目 project · item
- 事项 item · matter
- 项链 necklace
- 项圈 collar
- 选项 option
Read the story behind the character
A project lead reviews the open 项目 and ticks each 事项 off the board, while a pet wears a new 项圈 with the clinic tag. The survey offers three 选项 and the analyst picks the safest, the 项链 on her desk a gift from the last 项目 that shipped. The 项 of unpaid work grows, and the 项圈 order reminds her the dog still needs walking.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Hándān Chún 邯郸淳, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.