趣

qù

what attracts one's attention; to head toward; the gist or tendency

Meaning

  • Physical Motion: To head or hasten toward a destination, implying movement directed by a specific aim.
  • Inclination and Taste: Personal preference, whim, or the quality of a thing that attracts attention.
  • Abstract Trajectory: The "drift" or gist of a line of reasoning; the general tendency or ultimate point toward which a passage leads.

Grammar and usage

  • Verb: Primarily intransitive. Used for physical motion (to head for) or mental leaning (to be inclined toward).
  • Noun: Refers to an object of attraction, a specific taste/preference, or the abstract "point" of a discussion.

Distinctions

Contrast with 趨 (qū): While both glyphs overlap regarding "hastening" or "tending toward," 趣 typically emphasizes the attraction or interest that pulls the subject forward, whereas 趨 more frequently denotes a general trend, a strategic shift, or simple physical speed.

Graphical notes

The glyph combines 走 (to walk/run) and 取 (to take/fetch), denoting purposeful movement driven by a specific objective or attraction.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.