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March 24, 2026
饥(飢)jī(ji1)
饥 (jī) refers to the state of being hungry or the sensation of hunger. It is often used in contexts related to food scarcity or famine, and can also describe a general feeling of starvation. This character can also appear in discussions surrounding food security and nutrition.
Strokes5Radical饣Frequency#18976DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Hunger has been a significant theme in Chinese history, especially during periods of famine. The character 饥 can evoke historical memories of hardship and resilience, reflecting the importance of food security in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Think of 饥 (jī) as a 'hungry' person with an empty bowl (the bowl is represented by the top radical 食, meaning food). Picture this person's stomach growling, reminding you of the sound 'jī' as they long for a meal.
Meanings of 饥
jī(ji1)
1hungry
2hungry, starving; hunger, famine
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 饥 means.
About 饥
饥Simplified
飢Traditional
5Strokes
饣Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#18976Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 饥
Podcast: 饥
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AI Study Notes for 饥
Quick Contrast
饥 (jī) vs 饿 (è) — use 饥 for a more formal or literary context of hunger, while 饿 is more commonly used in everyday speech.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 饥 with the more common word for 'hungry' in conversational Mandarin, which is 饿 (è). While 饥 may sound more formal or literary, it is important to use the correct context when discussing hunger. Be careful with the tone; 'jī' is pronounced with a first tone, which can easily be mistaken for the fourth tone.
HSK Study Tips
饥 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list but is related to other food-related words. Students should focus on differentiating between 饥, 饿, and related terms like 食 (shí, food) to build a broader vocabulary around hunger and nutrition.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 饥 in casual situations where 饿 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我饥' instead of '我饿' to mean 'I am hungry.' Always opt for 饿 in informal speech.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 饥
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How Well Do You Know 饥?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 饥 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.
饥 = 饣 + 几. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 饥
IDS Structure⿰饣几
饥Full Character
=
饣shi2
left
几ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 饥?
How to say hungry in Chinese
“hungry” in Chinese is饥jī
饥 (jī) refers to the state of being hungry or the sensation of hunger. It is often used in contexts related to food scarcity or famine, and can also describe a general feeling of starvation. This character can also appear in discussions surrounding food security and nutrition.
When to use 饥
Learners often confuse 饥 with the more common word for 'hungry' in conversational Mandarin, which is 饿 (è). While 饥 may sound more formal or literary, it is important to use the correct context when discussing hunger. Be careful with the tone; 'jī' is pronounced with a first tone, which can easily be mistaken for the fourth tone.
饥 or something close to it
饥 (jī) vs 饿 (è) — use 饥 for a more formal or literary context of hunger, while 饿 is more commonly used in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 饥 in casual situations where 饿 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我饥' instead of '我饿' to mean 'I am hungry.' Always opt for 饿 in informal speech.
Write 饥
饥
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Grammar Patterns of 饥
饥 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 2 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.
