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March 24, 2026
竞(競)jìng(jing4)
The character 竞 (jìng) means 'to compete' or 'to contend.' It is commonly used in contexts involving competition, such as sports, business, or any scenario where two or more parties strive for the same goal. The nuance of this character implies a sense of struggle and effort in the pursuit of victory.
Strokes10Radical立Frequency#10837DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, competition is often viewed as a necessary part of success, especially in education and business. The concept of '竞' is prevalent in events like the Gaokao (college entrance exam), where students compete intensely for limited university placements.
Memory Tip
Think of 竞 (jìng) as a race where two runners are 'jostling' to be first. The left part of the character resembles a person making a move, while the right part suggests a sense of contest. Imagine a 'jingle' of competition echoing as they compete, which can help you remember both the sound and meaning.
Meanings of 竞
jìng(jing4)
1to compete
2to contend
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 竞
竞Simplified
競Traditional
10Strokes
立Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#10837Frequency Rank
Podcast: 竞
Podcast: 竞
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AI Study Notes for 竞
Quick Contrast
竞争 (jìngzhēng) vs 竞赛 (jìngsài): Use 竞 (jìng) when referring to the act of competing in a general sense, while 竞争 (jìngzhēng) emphasizes the ongoing nature of competition, and 竞赛 (jìngsài) specifically refers to a competition or contest event.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 竞 (jìng) as a race where two runners are 'jostling' to be first. The left part of the character resembles a person making a move, while the right part suggests a sense of contest. Imagine a 'jingle' of competition echoing as they compete, which can help you remember both the sound and meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 竞 with 争 (zhēng), which also means 'to contend' but is more focused on disputes. 竞 is more often used in formal contexts, such as competitions or contests, while 争 can be used informally. Remember to use 竞 in contexts where competition is implied, such as '竞赛' (competition).
HSK Study Tips
Although 竞 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates well to words at HSK 4 and 5 that involve competition, such as '比赛' (bǐsài - competition) and '竞争' (jìngzhēng - competition). Focus on building vocabulary around themes of competition and striving for success.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, competition is often viewed as a necessary part of success, especially in education and business. The concept of '竞' is prevalent in events like the Gaokao (college entrance exam), where students compete intensely for limited university placements.
Common Mistakes
Learners often accidentally use 竞 when they mean to express 'to argue' or 'to dispute,' mistakenly substituting it for 争. For example, saying '我们在这个问题上竞' (We compete on this issue) should be corrected to '我们在这个问题上争' (We argue about this issue).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 竞
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Grammar Patterns of 竞
竞 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 4 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.
For some people, competing is the be-all and end-all of their running.
10
杜克在本月的路易斯安那州长竞选中大败而归。
dù kè zài běn yuè de lù yì sī ān nà zhōu cháng jìng xuǎn zhōng dà bài ér guī。
Duke was soundly defeated in this month's Louisiana governor's race.
Cultural Notes for 竞
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, competition is often viewed as a necessary part of success, especially in education and business. The concept of '竞' is prevalent in events like the Gaokao (college entrance exam), where students compete intensely for limited university placements.
Word Family of 竞
Compounds1
競jing4to compete, to contend, to vie
Words Containing This Character20
竞争jìngzhēngto compete競爭
竞选jìngxuǎnto run for office競選
竞赛jìngsàirace競賽
竞争力competitive strength競爭力
竞jìngto compete競
竞技jìngjìathletics tournament競技
竞争者competitor競爭者
竞价price competition競價
竞技场arena競技場
竞猜quiz game競猜
竞相jìngxiāngcompetitive競相
竞争性competitive競爭性
竞逐competition競逐
竞走walking race (athletics event)競走
物竞天择natural selection物競天擇
竞渡boat race競渡
竞技性competitive競技性
竞秀beauty contest競秀
竞艳beauty contest競艷
竞赛者player競賽者
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 競 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 竞
竞 is often found in idiomatic expressions related to competition, such as 竞相 (jìngxiāng), meaning 'to compete with each other'. Understanding such idioms can provide deeper insights into competitive contexts in Chinese culture.
Some synonyms for 竞 include 争 (zhēng), which also means 'to strive' or 'to contend', and 斗 (dòu), meaning 'to fight' or 'to struggle'. These words can be used interchangeably in certain contexts of competition.
You can use 竞 in a sentence like: '他们在比赛中激烈竞争' (Tāmen zài bǐsài zhōng jīliè jìngzhēng), which means 'They are competing fiercely in the competition.' It highlights the action of competing in a specific context.
竞 (jìng) means 'to compete' or 'to contend'. It is often used in contexts related to competition, struggles, or contests, such as in sports or academic settings.
Common phrases include '竞争' (jìngzhēng - competition) and '竞赛' (jìngsài - contest).
Yes, 竞 is used in both spoken and written contexts, particularly in formal settings.
Not necessarily; it depends on context. While competition can be fierce, it can also foster growth and improvement.
