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March 24, 2026
京Jīng(Jing1)
The character 京 (jīng) primarily refers to the capital city of a country, most commonly used as an abbreviation for Beijing, China's capital. It can also denote a large number in algebraic contexts or represent the Jing ethnic minority. In everyday language, it conveys the idea of significance or prominence associated with capital cities.
Strokes8Radical亠Frequency#6210DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
京, as in Beijing, is central to Chinese culture, serving as a hub for politics, culture, and history. The phrase '京城' (capital city) embodies the historical significance of Beijing as the heart of China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'J' that stands tall like a skyscraper in a city (representing Beijing) to remember '京' (jīng). The radical '亠' (lid) on top suggests something important is contained underneath, symbolizing the capital's status.
Meanings of 京
Jīng(Jing1)
1Jing ethnic minority
2capital city of a country
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 京
京Simplified
8Strokes
亠Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#6210Frequency Rank
Podcast: 京
Podcast: 京
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AI Study Notes for 京
Usage Notes
京 is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing cities or demographics. Learners may confuse it with other characters that sound similar, so pay attention to tones. Common collocations include 北京 (Beijing) and 京剧 (Peking opera).
HSK Study Tips
京 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but connects with other geographical terms and city names. Focus on its usage in discussing locations and cultural elements related to Beijing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 京 with similar characters like 景 (jǐng, meaning scenery) due to pronunciation. It's important to remember that 京 specifically relates to capitals and significance, while 景 refers to visuals or landscapes.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 京
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六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation
Pictograph of a tall building. Similar to 高. Based on the original meaning "high place". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "capital city".
Pictograph of a tall building. Similar to 高. Based on the original meaning "high place". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "capital city".
1The giveawayA capital building on a hill
2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 京? 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 京?
Decomposition of 京
IDS Structure⿳亠口小
京Full Character
=
亠tou2
top
口kou3
middle
小xiao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 京?
How to say surname Jing in Chinese
“surname Jing” in Chinese is京Jīng
The character 京 (jīng) primarily refers to the capital city of a country, most commonly used as an abbreviation for Beijing, China's capital. It can also denote a large number in algebraic contexts or represent the Jing ethnic minority. In everyday language, it conveys the idea of significance or prominence associated with capital cities.
When to use 京
京 is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing cities or demographics. Learners may confuse it with other characters that sound similar, so pay attention to tones. Common collocations include 北京 (Beijing) and 京剧 (Peking opera).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 京 with similar characters like 景 (jǐng, meaning scenery) due to pronunciation. It's important to remember that 京 specifically relates to capitals and significance, while 景 refers to visuals or landscapes.
Write 京
京
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Practice writing 京 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 京
京 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 8 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.
