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覬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
覬jìto covet, to desire, to long forx, 17 strokes, radical 見
jì(ji4) T4
  1. 1to covet, to desire, to long for
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

覬jì(ji4)

The character 覬 (jì) means to covet or desire something strongly, often implying an intense longing for something that may not rightfully belong to you. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses an overwhelming desire, such as coveting wealth, power, or someone's achievements.

Strokes17Radical見
Cultural Note

The concept of coveting is often explored in Chinese literature and philosophy, where desire is seen as a potential source of suffering or moral failing. This reflects the cultural belief in moderation and the importance of contentment.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with a longing gaze (the character 覬 looks like a pair of eyes peering longingly) at a treasure chest filled with gold and jewels. The 'jì' sounds like 'jealousy,' which connects the idea of coveting with intense desire.

Meanings of 覬

jì(ji4)
1to covet, to desire, to long for
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 覬

覬Simplified
17Strokes
見Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 覬

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Podcast: 覬

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AI Study Notes for 覬

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 覬, as it can carry a negative connotation of greed or envy. It is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversations. Common collocations include 覬求 (jìqiú - to covet), where the nuance of desiring something intensely is emphasized.

HSK Study Tips

Although 覬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other words about desire or longing at higher levels, such as 渴望 (kěwàng - to yearn for). Focus on recognizing its use in literary or formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 覬 with 想要 (xiǎng yào), using it in contexts where a neutral desire is intended. For example, saying '我想要他的车' (I covet his car) instead of '我想要他的车' is incorrect; use 想要 for neutral contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 覬

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Etymology of 覬

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

Phonosemantic compound. 见 represents the meaning and 岂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 覬.

Memory Hint

eye

Semantic (meaning)見
+
Phonetic (sound)豈
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 覬

Phonosemantic compound. 见 represents the meaning and 岂 represents the sound. Simplified form of 覬.

  1. 1The meaning half見 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half豈 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayeye
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 覬? 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 覬?

Decomposition of 覬

IDS Structure⿰豈見
覬Full Character
=
豈qi3
left
見jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 覬?

How to say to covet, to desire, to long for in Chinese

“to covet, to desire, to long for” in Chinese is覬jì

The character 覬 (jì) means to covet or desire something strongly, often implying an intense longing for something that may not rightfully belong to you. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses an overwhelming desire, such as coveting wealth, power, or someone's achievements.

When to use 覬

Be mindful of the context in which you use 覬, as it can carry a negative connotation of greed or envy. It is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversations. Common collocations include 覬求 (jìqiú - to covet), where the nuance of desiring something intensely is emphasized.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 覬 with 想要 (xiǎng yào), using it in contexts where a neutral desire is intended. For example, saying '我想要他的车' (I covet his car) instead of '我想要他的车' is incorrect; use 想要 for neutral contexts.

Write 覬

覬

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 覬

Words Containing This Character2
觊觎to covet覬覦
觊jìto covet覬
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 觊觎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 覬

No, 覬 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in casual speech.

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