貾 (chí) - A type of cowrie shell used as currency & also refers to a precious treasure or valuable

貾Tone 2

chí ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

貾 · chí

A type of cowrie shell used as currency in ancient China;

also refers to a precious treasure or valuable object.

A type of cowrie shell used as currencyalso refers to a precious treasure or valuable

Usage highlights

Ancient currencyCowrie shellPrecious objectShell moneyTreasure collectionAncient treasure

Synonyms

  • 贝— cowrie shell; currency
  • 宝— treasure; precious object
  • 珍— rare treasure; precious

Antonyms

  • 废— waste; useless
  • 贱— cheap; worthless

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Ancient currency included cowrie shells (贝币).
  • The character 貾 contains the shell radical (贝).
  • Archaeologists found ancient cowrie shells (贝类) at the site.
  • This artifact was considered a treasure (宝物).

Collocations

  • Ancient currency(古货币)
  • Cowrie shell(贝类)
  • Precious object(宝物)
  • Shell money(贝币)
  • Treasure collection(珍藏)
  • Ancient treasure(古宝)

Idioms

  • Rare treasures and precious objects(奇珍异宝)
  • As precious as gold and jade(如金似玉)
  • Treasures handed down from ancestors(传家之宝)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Cowrie shells were among the earliest forms of currency in ancient China, predating metal coins.
  • Characters with the shell radical (贝) often relate to wealth, currency, or valuable objects.
  • The use of cowrie shells as money reflects early trade and economic systems in Chinese civilization.

FAQ