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殛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
殛jíto put to death; to imprison for lifeg, 12 strokes, radical 歹
jí(ji2)ji T2
  1. 1to put to death; to imprison for life
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March 24, 2026

殛jí(ji2)

The character 殛 (jí) conveys the meaning of putting to death, often referring to a severe punishment or execution. It is used in formal or legal contexts to indicate the act of sentencing someone to death or life imprisonment. Its usage is quite rare in modern language, primarily appearing in historical texts or legal documents.

Strokes12Radical歹
Cultural note

The character reflects historical practices of capital punishment in Chinese society, particularly during imperial times when harsh penalties were often imposed for crimes. It underscores the serious legal traditions that have shaped modern Chinese law.

Memory tip

Imagine a judge (the character's top component resembles a judge’s gavel) striking down a gavel to pronounce a death sentence. The sound 'jí' can remind you of 'judge,' emphasizing the legal and severe nature of the action.

Meanings of 殛

jí(ji2)
1to put to death; to imprison for life
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 殛

殛Simplified
12Strokes
歹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 殛

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AI study notes for 殛

Usage Notes

This character is formal and should be used in contexts related to law or historical discussions. Be cautious with its tone, as it carries a heavy connotation; using it casually can be seen as inappropriate. Common collocations include phrases relating to legal sentences and capital punishment.

HSK Study Tips

While 殛 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects conceptually to HSK words related to law and punishment, such as 刑 (xíng, punishment) or 杀 (shā, to kill). Students should focus on understanding its use in formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 殛 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misuse in contexts of punishment or execution. For example, using 殛 instead of 杀 (shā) in a casual conversation about killing can sound overly formal or dramatic.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 殛

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Etymology of 殛

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

death

Semantic (meaning)歹
+
Phonetic (sound)亟
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

殛 = 歹 + 亟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 殛

IDS Structure⿰歹亟
殛Full character
=
歹dai3
left
亟ji2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 殛?

How to say to put to death; to imprison for life in Chinese

“to put to death; to imprison for life” in Chinese is殛jí

The character 殛 (jí) conveys the meaning of putting to death, often referring to a severe punishment or execution. It is used in formal or legal contexts to indicate the act of sentencing someone to death or life imprisonment. Its usage is quite rare in modern language, primarily appearing in historical texts or legal documents.

When to use 殛

This character is formal and should be used in contexts related to law or historical discussions. Be cautious with its tone, as it carries a heavy connotation; using it casually can be seen as inappropriate. Common collocations include phrases relating to legal sentences and capital punishment.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 殛 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misuse in contexts of punishment or execution. For example, using 殛 instead of 杀 (shā) in a casual conversation about killing can sound overly formal or dramatic.

Write 殛

殛

Practice writing 殛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 殛

Words containing this character1
殛jíto put to death

Frequently asked questions about 殛

No, 殛 is rarely used in contemporary language and is primarily found in legal or historical contexts.

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