Chinese surname · rank 368
訾
訾 is read as zī.
zī
Simplified and traditional 訾
bad-mouth; criticize; defects
Earth
Time: Spring and Autumn tradition, 770-476 BCE
Place: Zi place in Zhou royal territory near southwest Gongxian/Gongyi, Henan; Zi city in ancient Ji/Qi region near Shouguang, Shandong; Jishi/Ji-state and Zizou clan traditions; Bohai commandery as later prestige geography
Origin note
訾 is a rare surname with several transmitted origins, so it should not be explained from the negative everyday meaning of the character. One layer derives it from the compound Zizou clan name, with descendants shortening the compound to the single surname Zi. Two place-name layers are also recorded: a Zi place in Zhou royal territory near modern Gongxian/Gongyi in Henan, and a Zi city in ancient Ji/Qi-related territory near modern Shouguang in Shandong; local residents or descendants are said to have used the place name as a surname. Another layer comes from Jishi: later surname books say some Qi-region families originally surnamed Ji changed to Zi. The page keeps these as parallel traditions and separates them from the character meaning criticize or defect.
Historical figures
Historical figures to enrich
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