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March 24, 2026
疾jí(ji2)
The character 疾 (jí) primarily refers to 'sickness' or 'disease,' encompassing both physical and emotional ailments. It can also express feelings of 'envy' or 'hate,' and in some contexts, it denotes 'swiftness.' This duality makes it versatile in both medical and emotional discussions.
Strokes10Radical疒Frequency#15710DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 疾 is central, as it not only refers to physical illness but also emotional imbalances, reflecting the holistic view of health in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a swift runner (the radical 疒 represents sickness) racing to escape from illness. The sound 'jí' can remind you of 'jive,' which you might associate with quick movements, linking speed and health.
Meanings of 疾
jí(ji2)
1sickness
2disease
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 疾
疾Simplified
10Strokes
疒Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#15710Frequency Rank
Podcast: 疾
Podcast: 疾
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AI Study Notes for 疾
Quick Contrast
病 (bìng) - use 疾 (jí) when referring to a broader or more intense sense of sickness or disease, while 病 (bìng) is more commonly used for general illness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 疾 with similar-sounding characters that express different meanings. It is more common in formal or literary contexts when discussing health or emotions. Common collocations include 疾病 (disease) and 疾苦 (suffering).
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK vocabulary word, 疾 connects with health-related terms at this level, such as 病 (bìng, illness) and 医 (yī, doctor). Focus on understanding its usage in medical contexts and emotional expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 疾 as 'zhí' due to confusion with similar characters. The correct pronunciation is 'jí.' Additionally, mixing it up with 病 can lead to incorrect usage; remember, 疾 emphasizes severity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 疾
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Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 矢 represents the sound.
1The meaning half疒 carries the sense.
2The sound half矢 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysickness
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 疾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 疾?
Decomposition of 疾
IDS Structure⿸疒矢
疾Full Character
=
疒ne4
enclosing
矢shi3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 疾?
How to say sickness in Chinese
“sickness” in Chinese is疾jí
The character 疾 (jí) primarily refers to 'sickness' or 'disease,' encompassing both physical and emotional ailments. It can also express feelings of 'envy' or 'hate,' and in some contexts, it denotes 'swiftness.' This duality makes it versatile in both medical and emotional discussions.
When to use 疾
Be careful not to confuse 疾 with similar-sounding characters that express different meanings. It is more common in formal or literary contexts when discussing health or emotions. Common collocations include 疾病 (disease) and 疾苦 (suffering).
疾 or something close to it
病 (bìng) - use 疾 (jí) when referring to a broader or more intense sense of sickness or disease, while 病 (bìng) is more commonly used for general illness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 疾 as 'zhí' due to confusion with similar characters. The correct pronunciation is 'jí.' Additionally, mixing it up with 病 can lead to incorrect usage; remember, 疾 emphasizes severity.
Write 疾
疾
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Practice writing 疾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 疾
疾 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.
