HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7559, Medium
肌
jī
muscle
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7559, Medium
肌
jī
flesh, skin; muscle, tissue; meat on bones
HSK 3, n, 6 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #7559, Medium
jī(ji1) T1
1flesh
2muscle
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March 24, 2026
肌jī(ji1)
The character 肌 (jī) refers to flesh or muscle in the body, highlighting the soft tissues that are found beneath the skin. Commonly used in medical, health, and fitness contexts, it emphasizes the idea of physical form, strength, and bodily structure.
Strokes6Radical⺼Frequency#7559DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), understanding the balance of bodily 'flesh' and 'muscle' is essential for diagnosing health issues, reflecting a holistic view of the human body.
Memory Tip
Imagine a muscular 'giant' (jī) flexing their arms, showcasing the 'flesh' and 'muscle' beneath their skin. The character 肌 has a radical for 'meat' (肉), reminding us that this word is about the physical aspects of the body.
Meanings of 肌
jī(ji1)
1flesh
2muscle
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 肌
肌Simplified
6Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7559Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3
Podcast: 肌
Podcast: 肌
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AI Study Notes for 肌
Quick Contrast
肌 (jī) vs 肉 (ròu) — use 肌 for muscle or flesh in a medical context, while 肉 refers to meat in a culinary context.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 肌 with similar characters like 肉 (ròu), which means 'meat' in a broader sense. This term is more common in medical or fitness discussions, so use it in appropriate contexts. Remember that the pronunciation is crucial; ensure you use the correct tone (first tone).
HSK Study Tips
While 肌 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is relevant for learners who are at an intermediate level (HSK 3-4) and interested in health-related vocabulary. Focus on how this term connects to words related to anatomy and physical fitness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肌 with 肉 (ròu), mistakenly using 肌 when discussing general meat products. Correct usage would involve 肌 for muscle contexts, while 肉 should be used when referring to meat as food.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肌
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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 几 represents the sound.
1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
2The sound half几 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayflesh
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 肌? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 肌?
Decomposition of 肌
IDS Structure⿰⺼几
肌Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
几ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 肌?
How to say flesh in Chinese
“flesh” in Chinese is肌jī
The character 肌 (jī) refers to flesh or muscle in the body, highlighting the soft tissues that are found beneath the skin. Commonly used in medical, health, and fitness contexts, it emphasizes the idea of physical form, strength, and bodily structure.
When to use 肌
Be cautious not to confuse 肌 with similar characters like 肉 (ròu), which means 'meat' in a broader sense. This term is more common in medical or fitness discussions, so use it in appropriate contexts. Remember that the pronunciation is crucial; ensure you use the correct tone (first tone).
肌 or something close to it
肌 (jī) vs 肉 (ròu) — use 肌 for muscle or flesh in a medical context, while 肉 refers to meat in a culinary context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 肌 with 肉 (ròu), mistakenly using 肌 when discussing general meat products. Correct usage would involve 肌 for muscle contexts, while 肉 should be used when referring to meat as food.
Write 肌
肌
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Practice writing 肌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 肌
肌 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.
