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蓟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
cirsium, thistle; surnamenr, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #21179, Hard
surname Jiunknown, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #21179, Hard
ancient Chinese city state near modern day Beijingunknown, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #21179, Hard
(Ji4) T4
  1. 1cirsium, thistle; surname
  2. 2ancient Chinese city state near modern day Beijing
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(薊)(Ji4)

The character 蓟 (jì) refers to a type of plant known as thistle, which is characterized by its prickly leaves and colorful flowers. It can also serve as a surname in China, particularly associated with the ancient city-state of Ji, located near modern-day Beijing, highlighting its historical significance.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#21179DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The character 蓟 is tied to the ancient city-state of Ji, which played a role in early Chinese history. This connection can be seen in historical texts and discussions about the development of the Beijing area.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant thistle plant with sharp, spiky leaves that look like they are guarding a castle (the historical city-state of Ji). The sharp thorns remind you of the pronunciation 'jì', similar to the sound of a sharp 'j' cutting through the air.

Meanings of 蓟

(Ji4)
1cirsium, thistle; surname
2ancient Chinese city state near modern day Beijing
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蓟

Simplified
Traditional
13Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蓟

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 蓟

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant thistle plant with sharp, spiky leaves that look like they are guarding a castle (the historical city-state of Ji). The sharp thorns remind you of the pronunciation 'jì', similar to the sound of a sharp 'j' cutting through the air.

Usage Notes

This character is relatively uncommon in everyday conversation and is more frequently used in historical or literary contexts. Be cautious with its pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include historical references or botanical discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蓟 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 and beyond, where learners encounter more specialized vocabulary. Focus on understanding its historical context, which can enhance comprehension of related texts.

Cultural Note

The character 蓟 is tied to the ancient city-state of Ji, which played a role in early Chinese history. This connection can be seen in historical texts and discussions about the development of the Beijing area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蓟 with similar-sounding characters due to its unique pronunciation. For example, a common mistake is mispronouncing it as 'ji' without the correct tone, leading to confusion with other vocabulary like 记 (jì) meaning 'to remember'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蓟

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Etymology of 蓟

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

plant

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蓟?

Decomposition of 蓟

IDS Structure⿱艹⿰鱼刂
Full Character
=
cao3
top
Yu2
left
dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蓟?

Write 蓟

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蓟

蓟 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 3 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 1

Complete the Sentence

蜜蜂在鲜红的罂粟花和艳紫的____草花之间飞舞嗡嗡低吟.

Bees moved , humming thoughtfully , from scarlet poppy to purple thistle.

Example Sentences for 蓟 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
蜜蜂在鲜红的罂粟花和艳紫的蓟草花之间飞舞嗡嗡低吟.

mì fēng zài xiān hóng de yīng sù huā hé yàn zǐ de jì cǎo huā zhī jiān fēi wǔ wēng wēng dī yín.

Bees moved , humming thoughtfully , from scarlet poppy to purple thistle.

Cultural Notes for 蓟

🏮Cultural insight

The character 蓟 is tied to the ancient city-state of Ji, which played a role in early Chinese history. This connection can be seen in historical texts and discussions about the development of the Beijing area.

Word Family of 蓟

Words Containing This Character2
surname Ji
蓟县Ji county in Tianjin 天津[Tiān​jīn]薊縣
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蓟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蓟

Besides being a surname, 蓟 refers to a type of thistle plant, which has agricultural and ecological significance.