Meanings of 吉
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 吉
Podcast: 吉
Podcast: 吉
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 吉
吉 (jí) vs 宜 (yí) — choose 吉 for 'lucky' or 'auspicious' contexts, while 宜 means 'suitable' or 'appropriate'.
Think of 吉 (jí) as a 'jolly' character bringing good luck. Imagine a joyful person holding a four-leaf clover, which symbolizes luck. The 'j' sound in jí can remind you of 'jolly', linking the pronunciation to its meaning of good fortune.
In informal contexts, 吉 can be used to express good wishes, such as during the Lunar New Year. Be careful not to confuse it with words that sound similar but convey different meanings, especially in tone. Common collocations include 吉日 (lucky day) and 吉祥 (auspicious).
吉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list but is relevant for learners at an intermediate level due to its use in cultural contexts. Students should focus on recognizing its role in expressions of good fortune and connecting it with related terms like 吉祥.
In Chinese culture,吉 is often associated with traditional beliefs in luck and prosperity, especially during celebrations like weddings and the Lunar New Year. It is common to see decorations featuring this character to invite good fortune.
Learners often confuse 吉 (jí) with similar-sounding characters that have negative meanings, such as 及 (jí), which means 'to reach'. For example, saying '吉日' (jí rì) but writing it as '及日' (jí rì) changes the meaning significantly.
Pronunciation of 吉
Drill the tone of 吉 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 吉
Based on the original meaning "authority" or "respect" given to scholars (士). The meaning later shifted to "lucky".
The words 口 of a scholar 士
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 吉?
Decomposition of 吉
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 吉?
Write 吉
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 吉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 吉
吉 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
伯爵茶、大____岭茶和茉莉花茶是最畅销的几种传统茶叶。
Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Jasmine are best-selling traditional teas.
Example Sentences for 吉 (10)
Cultural Notes for 吉
In Chinese culture,吉 is often associated with traditional beliefs in luck and prosperity, especially during celebrations like weddings and the Lunar New Year. It is common to see decorations featuring this character to invite good fortune.
Word Family of 吉
Compound Meaning
What does 结 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吉
吉 can be used as a surname, often signifying a hopeful or fortunate character.