至

Meaning "to arrive" or "to reach" a certain point, moment, stage, or status. It also carries the meaning of "utmost" or "extreme," as in the phrase 止於至善 (staying at the utmost goodness).

According to the Shuowen Jiezi, the character 至 is a compound ideograph formed by combining the part 一 at the bottom, representing the ground, and the rest of the character which depicts a bird descending from high in the sky toward the ground.

Another interpretation suggests it represents the tip of an arrow pointing downward and piercing the ground.

When used as a radical, it conveys meanings related to “arriving” or “reaching.” Additionally, it is used in characters that denote places where people are present, such as 室 (room), 屋 (house), and 臺 (platform).