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紧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
紧jǐntightHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnstrictHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnclose at handHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnnearHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnurgentHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐntenseHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnhard upHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnshort of moneyHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐnto tightenHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
紧jǐntense, tight, taut; firm, secureHSK 5, a, 10 strokes, radical 糸, rank #1255, Medium
jǐn(jin3) T3
  1. 1tight
  2. 2strict
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
紧(緊)jǐn(jin3)

The character 紧 (jǐn) means 'tight' or 'close,' and it can refer to physical tightness, such as a tightly fastened object, or an emotional state, like being under pressure or feeling urgent. It is commonly used in contexts that express urgency or strictness, such as a tight schedule or strict rules.

Strokes10Radical糸Frequency#1255DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '紧' often reflects a societal emphasis on diligence and urgency, especially in professional settings where time management is crucial. Expressions like '紧张' (nervous) reflect the cultural importance placed on performance and meeting expectations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'jin'gerbread man being squeezed tightly in a jar. The character 紧 has the silk radical (糸) at the top, which is associated with things that are tight or secure, while the bottom part (巾) looks like a piece of cloth that is being pulled tight.

Meanings of 紧

jǐn(jin3)
1tight
2strict
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 紧

紧Simplified
緊Traditional
10Strokes
糸Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1255Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2

Podcast: 紧

JasonAmy

Podcast: 紧

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AI Study Notes for 紧

Quick Contrast

紧 (jǐn) vs 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) — use 紧 for physical tightness or closeness, while 紧张 refers specifically to a state of tension or anxiety.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'jin'gerbread man being squeezed tightly in a jar. The character 紧 has the silk radical (糸) at the top, which is associated with things that are tight or secure, while the bottom part (巾) looks like a piece of cloth that is being pulled tight.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 紧; a common mistake is to confuse it with the similar-sounding characters. It's often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be aware that in some situations, it may sound too blunt if used to describe people. Common collocations include '紧张' (jǐnzhāng - nervous) and '紧急' (jǐnjí - urgent).

HSK Study Tips

Although 紧 is not officially listed in HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for advanced learners. Students should focus on understanding its various contexts, including how it combines with other characters to form phrases about urgency or emotional states, like '紧急情况' (urgent situation).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '紧' often reflects a societal emphasis on diligence and urgency, especially in professional settings where time management is crucial. Expressions like '紧张' (nervous) reflect the cultural importance placed on performance and meeting expectations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 紧 with the character 近 (jìn), which means 'near.' An example mistake is using '近' when describing a tight deadline, which should be '紧急.' Another common error is using the wrong tone, leading to misunderstanding.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 紧

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Etymology of 紧

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 緊. Phonosemantic compound. 臣 represents the sound, while 又 and 糸 represent the meaning.

Memory Hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)糸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 紧?

Decomposition of 紧

IDS Structure⿱⿰？又糸
紧Full Character
=
又you4
left
糸mi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 紧?

Write 紧

紧

Practice writing 紧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 紧

紧 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 10 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.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____张有什么用？

What good is being nervous?

Common Confusions with 紧

紧 means 'tight' or 'close', while 紧张 means 'nervous' or 'tense'.

1

他很紧张。

紧 means 'tight' or 'close', while 紧张 means 'nervous' or 'tense'.

💡Remember that 紧 is about tightness, while 紧张 is about tension.

Usage Notes for 紧

Usage in idiomatic expressionsGrammar Tip

紧 is often used in idiomatic expressions to describe urgency or closeness, such as '紧急' (urgent).

1

我们需要紧急处理这个问题。

We need to handle this issue urgently.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我们需要____急处理这个问题。

We need to handle this issue urgently.

Example Sentences for 紧 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
比赛时我总会紧张得不行。

bǐ sài shí wǒ zǒng huì jǐn zhāng dé bù háng。

I tend to get very uptight during a match.
2
她张开双臂，紧紧地拥抱了我。

tā zhāng kāi shuāng bì， ， jǐn jǐn dì yōng bào le。

She opened her arms and gave me a big hug.
3
抓紧我的手，跟着我。

zhuā jǐn wǒ de shǒu， ， gēn zháo。

Just hold tight to my hand and follow along.
4
他神经极为紧张！比我还糟！

tā shén jīng jí wéi jǐn zhāng！ ！ bǐ wǒ huán！

He was in a blue funk! Worse than me!
5
因为正在使用很多昂贵的设备，所以我非常紧张。

yīn wéi zhèng zài shǐ yòng hěn duō áng guì de shè bèi， ， suǒ yǐ wǒ fēi cháng jǐn。

I get very nervous because I'm using a lot of expensive equipment.
6
应该让母亲来重新安排自己紧张的日程。

yīng gāi ràng mǔ qīn lái zhòng xīn ān pái zì jǐ jǐn zhāng de rì chéng。

It is the mother who is expected to reorganize her busy schedule.
7
奥尔特曼制造的一些紧张氛围开始缓解。

ào ěr tè màn zhì zào de yī xiē jǐn zhāng fēn wéi kāi shǐ huǎn jiě。

Some of the tension Altman builds up starts to sag.
8
你要是觉得两眼周围紧绷，就放松一下肌肉。

nǐ yào shì jué dé liǎng yǎn zhōu wéi jǐn bēng， ， jiù fàng sōng yī xià jī。

If you feel a tenseness around the eyes, relax your muscles.
9
你要知道，我的家人个个古怪得紧。

nǐ yào zhī dào， ， wǒ de jiā rén gè gè gǔ guài dé。

I came from a family that was decidedly oddball you know.
10
我打了个寒战，用围巾把脖子围得更紧了。

wǒ dǎ le gè hán zhàn， ， yòng wéi jīn bǎ bó zǐ wéi dé gēng jǐn。

I shivered and pulled my scarf more tightly round my neck.

Cultural Notes for 紧

💡Did you know?

在中国文化中，‘紧’常用来形容时间的紧迫性。例如，考试临近时，学生常说‘时间很紧’。这反映了中国社会对教育和成绩的重视。

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being '紧' often reflects a societal emphasis on diligence and urgency, especially in professional settings where time management is crucial. Expressions like '紧张' (nervous) reflect the cultural importance placed on performance and meeting expectations.

Word Family of 紧

Words Containing This Character20
紧张jǐnzhāngnervous緊張
紧jǐntight緊
紧急jǐnjíurgent緊急
赶紧gǎnjǐnhurriedly趕緊
抓紧zhuājǐnto grasp firmly抓緊
紧紧jǐnjǐnclosely緊緊
紧密jǐnmìinseparably close緊密
不要紧búyàojǐnunimportant不要緊
无关紧要wúguānjǐnyàoindifferent無關緊要
要紧yàojǐnimportant要緊
加紧jiājǐnto intensify加緊
紧迫jǐnpòpressing緊迫
紧跟to comply with緊跟
紧身skintight緊身
紧缩jǐnsuōto curtail緊縮
紧缺jǐnquēscarce緊缺
紧贴to stick close to緊貼
紧凑jǐncòucompact緊湊
收紧to tighten up (restrictions etc)收緊
紧握to hold firmly, not let go緊握
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 紧张 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 紧

To remember the meaning of 紧, think of scenarios where something is physically tight, like a tightly sealed jar. Associating the character with situations that evoke urgency or tension can also help solidify its meaning in your memory.