Meanings of 岌
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About 岌
Podcast: 岌
Podcast: 岌
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AI Study Notes for 岌
岌 (jí) vs 陡 (dǒu) — use 岌 when emphasizing perilous steepness or danger, whereas 陡 focuses more on the steepness itself without the connotation of danger.
When using 岌, be mindful of its context; it is often used in literary or formal settings rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 岌岌可危 (jí jí kě wēi), meaning 'in a precarious situation.' Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 急 (jí), which means 'urgent.'
While 岌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of descriptive language regarding nature and danger. It connects with other HSK vocabulary related to heights and urgency, so focus on these themes in your studies.
Learners often confuse 岌 with 急 due to similar pronunciation and structure, using it incorrectly in contexts that require urgency rather than describing steepness. For example, saying '这件事很岌' (This matter is very steep) instead of '这件事很急' (This matter is very urgent) is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 岌
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Etymology of 岌
Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 及 represents the sound.
mountain
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 岌
Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 及 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half山 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half及 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymountain
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 岌? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 岌
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How to say perilous, hazardous; steep, high in Chinese
“perilous, hazardous; steep, high” in Chinese is岌
The character 岌 (jí) conveys a sense of steepness or perilousness, often associated with lofty peaks and hazardous situations. It is commonly used in contexts describing danger or something that is precariously high, such as mountains or cliffs, and can also symbolize a sense of urgency or crisis.
When to use 岌
When using 岌, be mindful of its context; it is often used in literary or formal settings rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include 岌岌可危 (jí jí kě wēi), meaning 'in a precarious situation.' Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 急 (jí), which means 'urgent.'
岌 or something close to it
岌 (jí) vs 陡 (dǒu) — use 岌 when emphasizing perilous steepness or danger, whereas 陡 focuses more on the steepness itself without the connotation of danger.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 岌 with 急 due to similar pronunciation and structure, using it incorrectly in contexts that require urgency rather than describing steepness. For example, saying '这件事很岌' (This matter is very steep) instead of '这件事很急' (This matter is very urgent) is incorrect.
Write 岌
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Practice writing 岌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 岌
岌 functions as a four-character idiom (成语). Treat it as a fixed unit; it usually plays the role of a single adjective, adverb, or noun phrase inside the larger sentence. It carries 2 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
她对她的副手很不守信义，使得他的职位____岌可危。
She was so disloyal to her deputy she made his position untenable.
Example Sentences for 岌 (2)
Word Family of 岌
Compound Meaning
What does 岌岌可危 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 岌
It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it describes steep or hazardous conditions, often in literary contexts.
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