sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
unknown, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
jǐ(ji3) T3
1self
2oneself
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March 24, 2026
己jǐ(ji3)
The character 己 (jǐ) primarily means 'self' or 'oneself'. It is often used in contexts that emphasize personal identity or individuality. Additionally, it serves as the sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems (十天干), which are used in various traditional Chinese practices, including calendars and astrology.
Strokes3Radical己Frequency#5677DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese philosophy, the concept of self is significant, especially in teachings like Confucianism, which emphasizes personal responsibility and moral self-cultivation. The use of 己 reflects this cultural importance of introspection and self-awareness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person looking in a mirror, reflecting on their own identity - this symbolizes 'self'. The character 己 resembles a person standing upright, emphasizing the focus on oneself. Remember the pronunciation 'jǐ' by thinking of 'G' in 'G-self' for personal identity.
Meanings of 己
jǐ(ji3)
1self
2oneself
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 己
己Simplified
3Strokes
己Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#5677Frequency Rank
Podcast: 己
Podcast: 己
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AI Study Notes for 己
Quick Contrast
自己 (zìjǐ) vs. 身体 (shēntǐ) — use 己 (jǐ) when emphasizing the concept of self or identity, while 自己 (zìjǐ) is more commonly used in everyday language to refer to oneself, and 身体 (shēntǐ) refers specifically to the body.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 己 with other similar characters like 你 (nǐ, you) or 自 (zì, self). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with collocations, such as 己所 (one's own) and 不己 (not oneself). Pronunciation should be careful to avoid mixing with similar tones.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in HSK levels, understanding 己 can enhance comprehension of related vocabulary, especially in discussing personal matters. Focus on its relationship with other self-referential words like 自己 (zìjǐ, oneself) to build a broader context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 己 when they mean 'you' (你, nǐ). For example, saying '己好' (jǐ hǎo) instead of '你好吗?' (nǐ hǎo ma?) to ask 'How are you?'. Always remember 己 refers to oneself.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 己
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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 己? 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 己?
Decomposition of 己
IDS Structure⿱？乚
己Full Character
=
乚gou1
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Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 己?
How to say self in Chinese
“self” in Chinese is己jǐ
The character 己 (jǐ) primarily means 'self' or 'oneself'. It is often used in contexts that emphasize personal identity or individuality. Additionally, it serves as the sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems (十天干), which are used in various traditional Chinese practices, including calendars and astrology.
When to use 己
Common mistakes include confusing 己 with other similar characters like 你 (nǐ, you) or 自 (zì, self). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with collocations, such as 己所 (one's own) and 不己 (not oneself). Pronunciation should be careful to avoid mixing with similar tones.
己 or something close to it
自己 (zìjǐ) vs. 身体 (shēntǐ) — use 己 (jǐ) when emphasizing the concept of self or identity, while 自己 (zìjǐ) is more commonly used in everyday language to refer to oneself, and 身体 (shēntǐ) refers specifically to the body.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 己 when they mean 'you' (你, nǐ). For example, saying '己好' (jǐ hǎo) instead of '你好吗?' (nǐ hǎo ma?) to ask 'How are you?'. Always remember 己 refers to oneself.
Write 己
己
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Grammar Patterns of 己
己 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). 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.
It is the mother who is expected to reorganize her busy schedule.
Cultural Notes for 己
💡Did you know?
In Chinese philosophy, understanding oneself (己) is considered essential for personal growth and harmony. This concept is deeply rooted in Confucian teachings, emphasizing self-reflection and moral development.
Word Family of 己
Compounds24
起qi3to rise
记ji4to record
改gai3to change
纪Ji3surname Ji
配pei4to join
异yi4different
忌ji4to be jealous of
妃fei1wife, spouse; imperial concubine
岂kai3old variant of 愷
杞Qi3willow, medlar tree; a small feudal state
巻
記ji4mark, sign; to note, to record
圮pi3destroyed, ruined; to injure; to subvert
屺qi3a grassy knoll; a barren knoll
巽xun4mild, modest, obedient; southeast; 5th of the 8 trigrams
玘
芑qi3white millet
妀
巹jin3nuptial wine cup
忋
氾fan4to flood, to inundate, to overflow
紀ji4discipline, age; period, era; record, annal
魢
鱾
Words Containing This Character20
自己zìjǐoneself
己jǐself
知己zhījǐto know oneself
自己人ourselves
身不由己shēnbùyóujǐnot of one's own volition
据为己有to take for one's own據為己有
利己personal profit
己方our side
知己知彼know yourself, know your enemy (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[SūnzǐBīngfǎ])
一己oneself
固执己见to persist in one's views固執己見
安分守己to know one's place
己见one's own viewpoint己見
异己dissident異己
事不关己a matter of no concern to oneself (idiom)事不關己
各抒己见gèshūjǐjiàneveryone gives their own view各抒己見
严于律己to be strict with oneself嚴於律己
损人利己sǔnrénlìjǐharming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others損人利己
妲己Daji (c. 11th century BC), mythical fox spirit and concubine of the last Shang Dynasty Emperor Zhou Xin 紂辛|纣辛[ZhòuXīn]
克己复礼(any number of possible translations)克己復禮
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 起 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 己
己 (jǐ) holds cultural significance as it represents the concept of self-awareness and personal responsibility. In traditional Chinese philosophy, understanding oneself is essential for personal development.
Yes, 己 is used in various expressions in Chinese, such as '己所不欲，勿施于人' (Jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén), which means 'Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.' This emphasizes empathy and consideration for others.
己 (jǐ) means 'self' or 'oneself' in Chinese. It is also the sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems (十天干), and can represent the number six in various contexts such as lists or sequences.
To use 己 (jǐ) in a sentence, you can say: '我己知道了' (Wǒ jǐ zhīdàole), which translates to 'I already know.' It emphasizes the subject's own knowledge or feelings.
You can say '我己知道' (wǒ jǐ zhīdào), meaning 'I already know'. This emphasizes your personal knowledge.
Yes, it appears in phrases like '己所不欲，勿施于人' (jǐ suǒ bù yù, wù shī yú rén), meaning 'Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself'.
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