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March 24, 2026
季jì(Ji4)
The character 季 (jì) primarily means 'season,' referring to the four distinct periods of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. It can also denote the last month of a season or be used as a classifier for crops harvested in a particular season, and it can indicate the youngest sibling among brothers. In contexts involving time and agriculture, this character is frequently used.
Strokes8Radical子Frequency#653DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of seasons is deeply integrated into agricultural practices and festivals, such as the harvest festival celebrated in autumn. The character 季 reflects this connection to the natural cycles of life and farming.
Memory Tip
Imagine a family gathering in each season, where the youngest brother is always the last one to join the group. The character 季 has the radical for 'child' (子) at the bottom, suggesting youth, while the top part resembles a roof, reminding you of the seasons under which families gather.
Meanings of 季
jì(Ji4)
1season
2the last month of a season
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 季
季Simplified
8Strokes
子Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#653Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 季
Podcast: 季
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AI Study Notes for 季
Quick Contrast
季 (jì) vs 节 (jié) — use 季 for seasons specifically, while 节 refers to festivals or sections within a time period.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a family gathering in each season, where the youngest brother is always the last one to join the group. The character 季 has the radical for 'child' (子) at the bottom, suggesting youth, while the top part resembles a roof, reminding you of the seasons under which families gather.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 季 with 期 (qī), which means 'period' or 'time.' 季 is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in phrases related to seasons and time. Pay attention to tones; the fourth tone in 'jì' can be easily mistaken for the first tone in 'jī,' which has a different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As 季 is not included in the HSK levels, learners should focus on its connections to other time-related words such as 年 (nián, year) and 月 (yuè, month). Understanding how seasons relate to time can help in memorizing this character. It’s also useful for discussions about agricultural cycles.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of seasons is deeply integrated into agricultural practices and festivals, such as the harvest festival celebrated in autumn. The character 季 reflects this connection to the natural cycles of life and farming.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 季 with 期, leading to misunderstandings in context. For example, saying '季的时间' (jì de shíjiān) to mean 'time of the period' is incorrect; it should be '期的时间' (qī de shíjiān).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 季
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Grammar Patterns of 季
季 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 6 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.
In Chinese culture, the concept of seasons is deeply integrated into agricultural practices and festivals, such as the harvest festival celebrated in autumn. The character 季 reflects this connection to the natural cycles of life and farming.
Word Family of 季
Compounds3
悸ji4apprehensive, fearful; perturbed
痵
鯚
Words Containing This Character20
季jìseason
赛季season (sports)賽季
季度jìdùquarter of a year
季节jìjiétime季節
冬季dōngjìwinter
夏季xiàjìsummer
秋季qiūjìautumn
春季chūnjìspringtime
季军jìjūnthird in a race季軍
四季sìjìfour seasons, namely: spring 春, summer 夏, autumn 秋 and winter 冬
第一季度first quarter (of financial year)
旺季wàngjìbusy season
第三季度third quarter (of financial year)
第二季度second quarter (of financial year)
雨季rainy season
季节性seasonal季節性
淡季dànjìoff season
一年四季all year round
季风monsoon季風
花季youthful time
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 悸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 季
Yes, 季 (jì) is a recognized surname in China, though it is less common compared to other surnames. It is often associated with families that may have historical significance or regional ties.
Some examples include 四季 (sì jì), which means 'four seasons,' and 季节 (jì jié), meaning 'season' or 'period.' These terms are frequently used in conversation about weather and time.
季 (jì) means 'season' in Chinese and can refer to the last month of a season. It can also be used as a surname, Ji. Additionally, it serves as a classifier for seasonal crop yields and denotes the fourth or youngest amongst brothers.
To use 季 (jì) in sentences, you can refer to seasons, such as 春季 (chūn jì) for 'spring season' or 夏季 (xià jì) for 'summer season'. It can also be used in discussions about time, like '这个季节很热' (zhè ge jì jié hěn rè), meaning 'This season is very hot.'
It means 'season' and can also refer to the last month of a season or the youngest among siblings.
Focus on its meaning related to seasons and the context; it is different from 期, which relates to 'time' or 'period'.
Yes, it is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about seasons or agriculture.
