to arouse, to incite; acute, sharp; fierce, violent
HSK 5, n, 16 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6352, Hard
jī(ji1) T1
1to arouse
2to incite
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March 24, 2026
激jī(ji1)
The character 激 (jī) primarily means 'to arouse' or 'to excite.' It is often used in contexts related to stimulating emotions or actions, such as excitement or anger. Additionally, it can describe something sharp or fierce, like a sharp object or a strong feeling.
Strokes16Radical氵Frequency#6352DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激 can relate to intense emotions often displayed in traditional performances, such as opera, where excitement and drama are heightened to engage the audience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp knife (激) cutting through the air, arousing excitement in those who see it. The character's form, with its radical for water on the left, can remind you of a surge of emotion or energy flowing sharply like a stream.
Meanings of 激
jī(ji1)
1to arouse
2to incite
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 激
激Simplified
16Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6352Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 激
Podcast: 激
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AI Study Notes for 激
Quick Contrast
激 (jī) vs 兴奋 (xīngfèn) — use 激 for a more intense or sharp arousal, while 兴奋 conveys a general sense of excitement.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sharp knife (激) cutting through the air, arousing excitement in those who see it. The character's form, with its radical for water on the left, can remind you of a surge of emotion or energy flowing sharply like a stream.
Usage Notes
激 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in phrases like 激动 (jīdòng, excited) and 激烈 (jīliè, fierce). Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change its meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 激 is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK 3 and 4 words that describe emotions and actions. Focus on using it in phrases that express strong feelings to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激 can relate to intense emotions often displayed in traditional performances, such as opera, where excitement and drama are heightened to engage the audience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 激 with its synonyms like 促 (cù, promote) or 使 (shǐ, make) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我想激这件事' (I want to excite this matter) is incorrect; instead, use '我想促进这件事' (I want to promote this matter).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 激
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Grammar Patterns of 激
激 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.
The crisis has set off a wave of nationalist feelings in Quebec.
8
他被惹得情绪非常激动，这很少见。
tā bèi rě dé qíng xù fēi cháng jī dòng， ， zhè hěn shǎo。
He was prompted to a rare outburst of feeling.
9
他们填了一肚子的冰激凌、巧克力和棒棒糖。
tā mén tián le yī dù zǐ de bīng jī líng、 、 qiǎo kè lì hé bàng bàng。
They stuffed themselves with ice creams, chocolate and lollies.
10
我认为这一反应有些过激。
wǒ rèn wéi zhè yī fǎn yīng yǒu xiē guò jī。
I think the reaction has been a little overheated.
Cultural Notes for 激
💡Did you know?
'激' is often used in Chinese expressions related to strong emotions or intense experiences, such as '激动' (excited) and '激烈' (fierce).
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 激 can relate to intense emotions often displayed in traditional performances, such as opera, where excitement and drama are heightened to engage the audience.
Word Family of 激
Words Containing This Character20
激动jīdòngto excite激動
刺激cìjīto provoke
感激gǎnjīto be grateful
激情jīqíngpassion
激烈jīlièintense
激励jīlìto urge激勵
激发jīfāto arouse激發
激光jīguānglaser
激活jīhuóto activate
激素jīsùhormone
激jīto arouse
冰激凌bīngjīlíngice cream
激怒to infuriate
激进radical激進
激起jīqǐto arouse
激战to fight fiercely激戰
感激不尽can't thank sb enough (idiom)感激不盡
过激drastic過激
雌激素estrogen
应激stress應激
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 激动 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 激
Yes, 激 (jī) can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal writing, it may appear in literature or academic settings, while in everyday conversations, it's often used to express excitement or intensity in emotions.
Some common phrases include 激烈 (jī liè), meaning 'fierce' or 'intense,' and 激发 (jī fā), which means 'to stimulate' or 'to provoke.' These phrases are used to convey strong emotions or actions in various contexts.
You can use 激 (jī) in various contexts, such as 激动 (jī dòng), which means 'to be excited' or 'to stir up emotions.' For example, 他的演讲激动了所有的听众 (His speech excited all the listeners). It's often used to describe strong feelings or actions.
激 (jī) means to arouse, incite, excite, or stimulate. It can also describe something that is sharp or fierce. This character is often used in contexts related to emotions or intense actions.
You can use it in sentences like '这部电影让我很激动' (This movie excited me).
Common phrases include 激动 (excited) and 激烈 (fierce).
Yes, it can be used in both formal and informal writing, but the context should fit the intensity of the emotion.
