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缉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to seizev, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to stitch finelyv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to arrestv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
Taiwan pr. [qì]v, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to sieze, to arrest; to stich closelyv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
Taiwan pr. [qi4]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to seizev, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to stitch finelyv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to arrestv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
Taiwan pr. [qì]v, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
to sieze, to arrest; to stich closelyv, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
Taiwan pr. [qi4]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 纟, rank #14672, Hard
(ji1)
primary
T1
  1. 1to seize
  2. 2to stitch finely
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(緝)(ji1)

The character 缉 (jī) primarily means 'to stitch finely' or 'to seize/arrest.' It is commonly used in legal contexts to refer to the act of apprehending criminals. In a more literal sense, it can also refer to sewing or stitching something tightly together.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#14672DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'seizing' or 'arresting' ties closely to the importance of social order and community safety, often reflected in literature and media that portray the role of law enforcement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tailor (the radical for 'cloth' 幺) stitching a delicate fabric very carefully. The sound 'jī' can be remembered by thinking of a 'gentle stitch' that secures the fabric tightly, just like how the police might 'stitch' together their evidence to catch criminals.

Meanings of 缉

(ji1)
primary
1to seize
2to stitch finely
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 缉

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14672Frequency Rank

Podcast: 缉

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AI Study Notes for 缉

Quick Contrast

缉 (jī) vs 抓 (zhuā) — use 缉 for formal/legal contexts of apprehending, while 抓 is more casual and can mean to catch or grab.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tailor (the radical for 'cloth' 幺) stitching a delicate fabric very carefully. The sound 'jī' can be remembered by thinking of a 'gentle stitch' that secures the fabric tightly, just like how the police might 'stitch' together their evidence to catch criminals.

Usage Notes

This verb is often used in formal contexts, especially in law enforcement. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words; be careful with pronunciation. It often collocates with words related to law and order, such as 'arrest' or 'seize.'

HSK Study Tips

While 缉 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares components with other characters like 逮 (dài, to catch) and 逮捕 (dàibǔ, to arrest), which are relevant for learners at higher levels. Focus on the context of law enforcement to better understand its usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'seizing' or 'arresting' ties closely to the importance of social order and community safety, often reflected in literature and media that portray the role of law enforcement.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 缉 due to its similarity to other words. For example, saying 'jī' instead of 'qì' in the Taiwanese context can lead to misunderstandings. Always pay attention to the context to choose the correct pronunciation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缉

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Etymology of 缉

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

thread

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 缉?

Decomposition of 缉

IDS Structure⿰纟咠
Full Character
=
si1
left
qi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 缉?

Write 缉

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 缉

缉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

他因谋杀一名地方法官而被通____。

He was wanted for the murder of a magistrate.

Example Sentences for 缉 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他因谋杀一名地方法官而被通缉。

tā yīn móu shā yī míng dì fāng fǎ guān ér bèi tōng jī。

He was wanted for the murder of a magistrate.
2
他是欧洲最重要的通缉犯之一。

tā shì ōu zhōu zuì zhòng yào de tōng jī fàn zhī yī。

He is one of the most wanted criminals in Europe.

Cultural Notes for 缉

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'seizing' or 'arresting' ties closely to the importance of social order and community safety, often reflected in literature and media that portray the role of law enforcement.

Word Family of 缉

Words Containing This Character14
通缉tōngjīto list as wanted通緝
缉毒drug enforcement緝毒
通缉犯wanted criminal通緝犯
to seize
缉拿to arrest緝拿
缉私to suppress smugglers緝私
缉捕to seize緝捕
查缉to search for and seize (criminals, smuggled goods etc)查緝
追缉to pursue追緝
侦缉to track down偵緝
缉毒犬sniffer dog緝毒犬
缉获to arrest緝獲
缉查to raid緝查
缉访to search and enquire緝訪
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 通缉 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缉

Common phrases include 缉拿 (jīná, to capture or arrest) and 缉捕 (jībǔ, to apprehend).