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March 24, 2026
藉jí(Ji2)
The character 藉 (jí) primarily means 'to rely on' or 'by means of', often used in contexts where someone seeks support or justification. It can also imply an excuse or pretext, indicating that something is being used as a means to an end. In addition, it refers to a sleeping mat, highlighting its versatility in meaning.
Strokes17Radical艹Frequency#9943DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of relying on others for support is deeply rooted, often seen in family and community ties. The word 藉 can reflect the importance placed on interdependence within social structures.
Memory tip
Imagine a person lying on a mat (the sleeping mat meaning) while relying on a friend for support. The character 藉 has a plant radical (艹) that resembles a mat of grass, symbolizing comfort and reliance. The 'jí' sound can be remembered as 'ji' for 'just in need', connecting the character's essence of reliance.
Meanings of 藉
jí(Ji2)
primary
1by means of; excuse, pretext; to rely on
2sleeping mat
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 藉
藉Simplified
17Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 藉
Podcast: 藉
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AI study notes for 藉
Quick Contrast
依 (yī, to depend on) — use 藉 when implying a means or pretext, while 依 focuses more on dependence or reliance.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 藉 in formal contexts, as it can sound overly casual if misapplied. It's often paired with words like '口' (kǒu - mouth) to form '藉口' (jì kǒu - excuse). Learners should also pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Though 藉 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to support, reliance, and excuses. Students should focus on understanding its nuances and practicing its use in sentences that involve justification or reliance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 藉 with 借 (jiè). For example, saying '我藉钱' (wǒ jí qián - I rely on money) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我借钱' (wǒ jiè qián - I borrow money). Additionally, using 藉 in formal documents can sound inappropriate if not contextualized properly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 藉
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Knowing 藉 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
How to say by means of; excuse, pretext; to rely on in Chinese
“by means of; excuse, pretext; to rely on” in Chinese is藉jí
The character 藉 (jí) primarily means 'to rely on' or 'by means of', often used in contexts where someone seeks support or justification. It can also imply an excuse or pretext, indicating that something is being used as a means to an end. In addition, it refers to a sleeping mat, highlighting its versatility in meaning.
When to use 藉
Be cautious when using 藉 in formal contexts, as it can sound overly casual if misapplied. It's often paired with words like '口' (kǒu - mouth) to form '藉口' (jì kǒu - excuse). Learners should also pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
藉 or something close to it
依 (yī, to depend on) — use 藉 when implying a means or pretext, while 依 focuses more on dependence or reliance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 藉 with 借 (jiè). For example, saying '我藉钱' (wǒ jí qián - I rely on money) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我借钱' (wǒ jiè qián - I borrow money). Additionally, using 藉 in formal documents can sound inappropriate if not contextualized properly.
Write 藉
藉
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Grammar patterns of 藉
藉 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
除了厨房特别干净外，这地方一片狼____。
Except for the remarkably tidy kitchen, the place was a mess.
