HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #1024, Medium
鸡
jī
chicken
HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #1024, Medium
鸡
jī
>只[zhī]
HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #1024, Medium
鸡
jī
(slang) prostitute
HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 鸟, rank #1024, Medium
jī(ji1) T1
1fowl
2chicken
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
鸡(雞)jī(ji1)
The character 鸡 (jī) primarily means 'chicken' or 'fowl' and is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing various chicken dishes in Chinese cuisine. Additionally, it can have a slang connotation referring to 'prostitute,' which should be used with caution due to its informal and potentially offensive nature.
Strokes7Radical鸟Frequency#1024DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, chicken is a staple ingredient in many traditional dishes and is often associated with celebrations, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity, particularly during festivals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chicken (鸡) cackling 'jī' as it struts around the farm. The character has a distinctive shape resembling a bird with a beak, which can help you remember its meaning as a fowl.
Meanings of 鸡
jī(ji1)
1fowl
2chicken
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鸡
鸡Simplified
雞Traditional
7Strokes
鸟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1024Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 鸡
Podcast: 鸡
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 鸡
Quick Contrast
鸭 (yā) - use 鸡 when specifically referring to chicken, while 鸭 refers to duck.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chicken (鸡) cackling 'jī' as it struts around the farm. The character has a distinctive shape resembling a bird with a beak, which can help you remember its meaning as a fowl.
Usage Notes
When using 鸡 in a culinary context, it is often paired with other words (e.g., 炒鸡 - stir-fried chicken). Be careful with the slang meaning, as it is informal and may not be appropriate in all situations. Always use the correct tone (first tone) to avoid confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
As a character not included in the HSK levels, 鸡 may still appear in everyday conversation. Focus on its common usages and collocations, especially in food-related contexts, to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, chicken is a staple ingredient in many traditional dishes and is often associated with celebrations, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity, particularly during festivals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鸡 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 记 (jì, to remember) due to tonal errors. Remember to keep the correct tone to accurately convey the meaning of 'chicken'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鸡
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 鸡 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Simplified form of 雞. Originally was a pictograph of a chicken. Later changed to a phonosemantic compound of 奚 and 隹 (bird). The traditional 隹 (bird) component was replaced with 鸟, a different character for "bird".
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 鸡 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 鸡
鸡 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 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.
The smell outside this building is overwhelming — like rotten eggs.
6
只要他一走进房间，她仍旧会起鸡皮疙瘩。
zhī yào tā yī zǒu jìn fáng jiān， ， tā réng jiù huì qǐ jī pí gē。
She still got goose bumps whenever he walked into the room.
7
新鲜鸡蛋会沉下去而不新鲜的会浮在上面。
xīn xiān jī dàn huì chén xià qù ér bù xīn xiān de huì fú zài shàng miàn。
A fresh egg will sink and an old egg will float.
8
火鸡能重达50磅。
huǒ jī néng zhòng dá50 50。
Turkeys can reach enormous weights of up to 50 pounds.
9
你能尽快给我弄个炒鸡蛋吗？
nǐ néng jìn kuài gěi wǒ nòng gè chǎo jī dàn ma？
Could you possibly knock me up some scrambled eggs?
10
这群人那天上午去了松鸡猎场。
zhè qún rén nà tiān shàng wǔ qù le sōng jī liè cháng。
The party had been to the grouse moors that morning.
Cultural Notes for 鸡
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, chicken is a staple ingredient in many traditional dishes and is often associated with celebrations, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity, particularly during festivals.
Word Family of 鸡
Words Containing This Character20
鸡jīfowl雞
鸡蛋jīdàn(chicken) egg雞蛋
鸡肉chicken meat雞肉
火鸡turkey火雞
鸡尾酒cocktail (loanword)雞尾酒
小鸡chick小雞
公鸡gōngjīcock公雞
鸡皮疙瘩goose pimples雞皮疙瘩
母鸡mǔjīhen母雞
炸鸡fried chicken炸雞
鸡汤chicken stock雞湯
鸡腿chicken leg雞腿
鸡奸sodomy雞奸
金鸡golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)金雞
雏鸡chick雛雞
肉鸡broiler肉雞
斗鸡cock fighting鬥雞
鸡毛蒜皮kitchen trash雞毛蒜皮
鸡巴dick雞巴
野鸡pheasant野雞
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鸡 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鸡
It is pronounced as 'jī' with a high tone.
Yes, but be cautious with the slang meaning; in formal contexts, it is best to stick to its literal meaning.
Yes, you can find expressions like '吃鸡' (chī jī), which means 'to eat chicken'.
