HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
fear
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
dread
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
scruple
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
to avoid or abstain from
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
to quit
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
to give up sth
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
忌
jì
jealous, envious; to fear; to shun
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 心, rank #22134, Very Hard
jì(ji4)ji T4
1to be jealous of
2fear
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March 24, 2026
忌jì(ji4)
The character 忌 (jì) primarily means to avoid or abstain from something due to fear or jealousy. It can also express a sense of dread or scruple in certain contexts, particularly when referring to superstitions or cultural taboos. This word is commonly used when discussing behaviors or actions that one might refrain from out of caution or envy.
Strokes7Radical心Frequency#22134DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 忌 is often linked to superstitions and avoidance of certain words or actions that may bring bad luck. For example, some people avoid certain numbers or phrases during festivals to prevent invoking bad fortune.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person looking over their shoulder in jealousy, afraid of what others might think. The character 忌 has a 'heart' (心) inside it, representing emotions like jealousy and fear, combined with 'to avoid' (忌 itself can imply avoidance). Picture this person avoiding their friend's success, feeling both jealousy and the need to stay away from negativity.
Meanings of 忌
jì(ji4)
1to be jealous of
2fear
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 忌 means.
About 忌
忌Simplified
7Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#22134Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 忌
Podcast: 忌
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AI Study Notes for 忌
Quick Contrast
忌 (jì) vs 避 (bì) — choose 忌 when the avoidance is due to fear or superstition, while 避 is more general for avoiding something.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 忌 (jì) with similar sounding words that do not convey the same meaning, such as 急 (jí) which means 'urgent'. It is generally used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about ethics and morality. Common collocations include 忌讳 (jìhuì), meaning 'taboo'.
HSK Study Tips
While 忌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to other words about emotions and ethics, such as 恨 (hèn, to hate) and 怕 (pà, to fear). Students should focus on understanding its various meanings and the contexts in which it is used, such as in idiomatic expressions or cultural discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 忌 in sentences about liking something, mistakenly saying, ‘我忌这个音乐’ (I avoid this music) instead of ‘我喜欢这个音乐’ (I like this music). Remember, 忌 should relate to avoidance due to fear or jealousy.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忌
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How Well Do You Know 忌?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 忌 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.
忌 = 心 + 己. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 忌
IDS Structure⿱己心
忌Full Character
=
己ji3
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 忌?
How to say to be jealous of in Chinese
“to be jealous of” in Chinese is忌jì
The character 忌 (jì) primarily means to avoid or abstain from something due to fear or jealousy. It can also express a sense of dread or scruple in certain contexts, particularly when referring to superstitions or cultural taboos. This word is commonly used when discussing behaviors or actions that one might refrain from out of caution or envy.
When to use 忌
Be careful not to confuse 忌 (jì) with similar sounding words that do not convey the same meaning, such as 急 (jí) which means 'urgent'. It is generally used in more formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about ethics and morality. Common collocations include 忌讳 (jìhuì), meaning 'taboo'.
忌 or something close to it
忌 (jì) vs 避 (bì) — choose 忌 when the avoidance is due to fear or superstition, while 避 is more general for avoiding something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 忌 in sentences about liking something, mistakenly saying, ‘我忌这个音乐’ (I avoid this music) instead of ‘我喜欢这个音乐’ (I like this music). Remember, 忌 should relate to avoidance due to fear or jealousy.
Write 忌
忌
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Practice writing 忌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 忌
忌 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我把最后两指宽的波旁威士____都倒进自己杯中。
I poured two final fingers of bourbon into my glass.
