son, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thing
a curved/hooked lower body
3 strokes · Radical: 子子 vs 于 vs 干 vs 千: How to Tell Them Apart
CHARACTERS AT A GLANCE
子a curved/hooked lower body · zi · son, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thing
于yú · at, in, on; to, from; alas!
干straight horizontal-vertical forms · gàn · arid, dry; to oppose; to offend; to invade
千十 with a slanting 丿 on top · qiān · thousand; many, numerous; very
01 · SEE THE DIFFERENCE
What changes at the top of each character?
Dark red marks the deciding detail
Play each character and compare the highlighted details.
Why the difference is easy to miss
子 and 于 and 干 and 千 share an outline that is easy to read too quickly.
子 has a curved/hooked lower body; 于 and 干 are straight horizontal-vertical forms; 千 is 十 with a slanting 丿 on top. At a glance, that shared shape can make 子's curved lower hook, then the top stroke and vertical ending of 于 / 干 / 千 easy to overlook.
Check the shape first, then confirm with the word.
If the surrounding word/meaning conflicts with the character you first recognized, re-check hook and top stroke.
Choose the right character.
Which character in 子 / 于 / 干 / 千 matches “offspring, child”?
Choose one answer.Which character completes □丹?
Choose one answer.Which character matches “oppose, offend”?
Choose one answer.How do I tell 子 vs 于 vs 干 vs 千 apart?
子 has a curved/hooked lower body; 于 and 干 are straight horizontal-vertical forms; 千 is 十 with a slanting 丿 on top. Separate 子 first, then compare the top stroke of 于/干/千. Then confirm with meaning/context.
What should I check when these characters appear in words?
Use meaning as the second route after visual discrimination: 子 = offspring, child; 于 = in, on, at; 干 = oppose, offend; 千 = thousand. If the surrounding word/meaning conflicts with the character you first recognized, re-check hook and top stroke.