却
but; yet; however; while; to go back; to decline; to retreat; nevertheless; even though
Closest English meanings
but·yet·step back·reject
The Calligrapher — Kē Jiǔsī 柯九思
Yuan painter-calligrapher renowned for his robust running script.
Yuan calligrapher (), master of running script — known for 《老人星赋》. Yuan dynasty
Cultural Story
Jia Yi's 过秦论 praises Meng Tian for driving the Xiongnu back “七百余里” — seven hundred li — a 却 written in the dust of the frontier. 退却 is the army's step back; 却步 the flinch before a high gate. 冷却 the steel in the trough, 忘却 the grief a year wears thin. The word is the draw of the breath.
Common words & phrases
- 退却 retreat · withdraw
- 冷却 cool down · cooling
- 忘却 forget · obliterate
- 却步 step back · shrink
- 了却 settle · finish · dispose of
Read the story behind the character
A unit 退却 in a drill; 冷却 is the laptop fan's job. 忘却 is the wish a song grants, 却步 the pause at a price tag, and 了却 the debt a son finally pays. The word steps from the battlefield to the checkout — the small retreats a day is made of.
Own this character
Purchase delivers the original SVG of this glyph, brushed by Kē Jiǔsī 柯九思, ready to place on skin, paper, or screen.