Character Contained In References Comments
Simplified Traditional Ancient forms Archaic forms
traditional formhandwritten form

Variants
Phonetic
Semantic
Apparent
北 一
Mandarin
qiu1
English
Definitions
Confucius; given name; mound; a name; earthenware; earthenware vessel; elder; empty; hill
Mnemonic
Men standing back to back 北 on top 一 of a hill can see a long way
Etymology
Notes
Originally a pictograph of two small peaks (compare 山 which had three); later standardized to two men back-to-back 北 on a surface 一