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饉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
饉jǐna time of famine or crop failurezg, 19 strokes, radical 飠
jǐn(jin3) T3
  1. 1a time of famine or crop failure
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

饉jǐn(jin3)

The character 饉 (jǐn) refers to a period of famine or crop failure, often indicating scarcity of food and hardship. It is commonly used in historical and literary contexts to describe times of great need or suffering due to agricultural disasters.

Strokes19Radical飠
Cultural Note

In ancient China, famines were significant events that shaped society and governance, leading to the establishment of relief efforts and agricultural reforms. The character reflects the importance of food security in Chinese history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bowl of food (饉) that is empty during a famine, making you feel jǐn (紧) or tight in your stomach. The character's radical 饣 (related to food) emphasizes its connection to starvation.

Meanings of 饉

jǐn(jin3)
1a time of famine or crop failure
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 饉

饉Simplified
19Strokes
飠Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 饉

JasonAmy

Podcast: 饉

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 饉

Usage Notes

饉 is a formal term and may not be frequently used in everyday conversation. It often appears in historical texts or discussions about agriculture. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

饉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but it connects with other food-related words and terms about scarcity. Students should focus on understanding its historical context and usage in literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 饉 with similar-sounding characters like 紧 (jǐn, meaning 'tight'). It's important to remember that 饉 specifically relates to famine, while 紧 pertains to tension or tightness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 饉

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Etymology of 饉

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A time of little 堇 food 飠; 堇 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 饉

  1. 1The giveawayA time of little 堇 food 飠; 堇 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 饉? 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 饉?

Decomposition of 饉

IDS Structure⿰飠堇
饉Full Character
=
飠shi2
left
堇jin3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 饉?

How to say a time of famine or crop failure in Chinese

“a time of famine or crop failure” in Chinese is饉jǐn

The character 饉 (jǐn) refers to a period of famine or crop failure, often indicating scarcity of food and hardship. It is commonly used in historical and literary contexts to describe times of great need or suffering due to agricultural disasters.

When to use 饉

饉 is a formal term and may not be frequently used in everyday conversation. It often appears in historical texts or discussions about agriculture. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 饉 with similar-sounding characters like 紧 (jǐn, meaning 'tight'). It's important to remember that 饉 specifically relates to famine, while 紧 pertains to tension or tightness.

Write 饉

饉

Practice writing 饉 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 饉

Words Containing This Character2
馑jǐntime of famine or crop failure饉
饥馑荐臻famine repeats unceasingly (idiom, from Book of Songs)饑饉薦臻
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 馑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 饉

饉 is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese and is more often found in literary or historical contexts.

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