sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]
unknown, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
jǐ(ji3)ji 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
By ear
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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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Knowing 己 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.
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.
I poured two final fingers of bourbon into my glass.
7
他宣称道：“我为自己的所作所为感到兴奋不已。”
tā xuānchēng dào：“ wǒ wèi zìjǐ de suǒzuòsuǒwéi gǎndào xīngfèn bùyǐ。”
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have done what I've done," he declared.
8
我们从可靠的消息来源获知索尼娅非常爱自己的家人。
wǒmen cóng kěkào de xiāoxi láiyuán huò zhī Suǒ ní yà fēicháng ài zìjǐ de jiārén。
Sonia, we are reliably informed, loves her family very much.
9
他们更加关心那些狗的安危，而非自己如何干净利落地脱身。
tāmen gèngjiā guānxīn nàxiē gǒu de Ān Wēi， ér fēi zìjǐ rúhé gānjìng lì luòdì tuōshēn。
They were more concerned about the dogs' welfare than a clean getaway.
10
应该让母亲来重新安排自己紧张的日程。
yīnggāi ràng mǔqīn lái chóngxīn ānpái zìjǐ jǐnzhāng de rìchéng。
It is the mother who is expected to reorganize her busy schedule.
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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qǐto rise
记jìto record
改gǎito change
纪jǐsurname Ji
配pèito join
异yìdifferent
忌jìto be jealous of
妃fēiwife, spouse; imperial concubine
岂kǎiold variant of 愷
杞qǐwillow, medlar tree; a small feudal state
巻juàn
記jìmark, sign; to note, to record
圮pǐdestroyed, ruined; to injure; to subvert
屺qǐa grassy knoll; a barren knoll
巽xùnmild, modest, obedient; southeast; 5th of the 8 trigrams
玘qǐ
芑qǐwhite millet
妀jǐ
巹jǐnnuptial wine cup
忋gǎi
氾fànto flood, to inundate, to overflow
紀jìdiscipline, age; period, era; record, annal
魢jǐ
鱾jǐ
Words containing this character20
自己zìjǐoneself
己jǐself
知己zhījǐto know oneself
自己人zìjǐrénourselves
身不由己shēnbùyóujǐnot of one's own volition
据为己有jùwéijǐyǒuto take for one's own據為己有
利己lìjǐpersonal profit
己方jǐfāngour side
知己知彼zhījǐzhībǐknow yourself, know your enemy (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[SūnzǐBīngfǎ])
一己yìjǐoneself
固执己见gùzhíjǐjiànto persist in one's views固執己見
安分守己ānfènshǒujǐto know one's place
己见jǐjiànone's own viewpoint己見
异己yìjǐdissident異己
事不关己shìbùguānjǐa 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yányúlǜjǐto 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dájǐDaji (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kèjǐfùlǐ(any number of possible translations)克己復禮
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 己
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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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