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劫持 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
劫持jiéchíto kidnapHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #6022, Very Hard
劫持jiéchíto hijackHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #6022, Very Hard
劫持jiéchíto abductHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #6022, Very Hard
劫持jiéchíto hold under duressHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #6022, Very Hard
jiéchí(jie2chi2)jie chi T2
  1. 1to kidnap
  2. 2to hijack
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March 24, 2026

劫持jiéchí(jie2chi2)

劫持 (jié chí) refers to the act of kidnapping, hijacking, or abducting someone against their will. It is often used in contexts involving coercion or illegal confinement, such as in criminal activities or hostage situations.

Strokes16Frequency#6022DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In recent years, instances of 劫持 have been highlighted in Chinese news, reflecting societal concerns about safety and security. The term is often associated with discussions on law enforcement and public safety measures in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'jail' (劫) with a 'kid' (持) inside, representing the act of taking someone captive. The character 劫 looks like a hand reaching out to grab, while 持 resembles holding something tightly, reinforcing the idea of control and abduction.

Meanings of 劫持

jiéchí(jie2chi2)
1to kidnap
2to hijack
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About 劫持

劫持Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 劫持

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AI study notes for 劫持

Quick Contrast

劫持 (jiéchí) vs 拐骗 (guǎipiàn) — use 劫持 for illegal confinement or hijacking, while 拐骗 refers to deceiving or tricking someone, often for personal gain.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 劫持; it is a serious term typically associated with crime and should be used in appropriate contexts. Common collocations include '劫持人质' (kidnap hostages) and '劫持飞机' (hijack an airplane).

HSK Study Tips

劫持 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance comprehension of news articles or discussions related to crime or safety. Focus on its usage in context to grasp its implications fully.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 劫持 with similar terms like 绑架 (bǎng jià), which specifically means 'to kidnap' without the hijacking aspect. For example, saying '劫持银行' (hijack a bank) is incorrect; it should be '劫持飞机' for hijacking a plane.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 劫持

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Component characters

劫jiéto take by force, to coerce; disaster; misfortune
HSK 77 strokes力
View full entry
持chíto hold
HSK 79 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say to kidnap in Chinese

“to kidnap” in Chinese is劫持jiéchí

劫持 (jié chí) refers to the act of kidnapping, hijacking, or abducting someone against their will. It is often used in contexts involving coercion or illegal confinement, such as in criminal activities or hostage situations.

When to use 劫持

Be cautious with the tone when using 劫持; it is a serious term typically associated with crime and should be used in appropriate contexts. Common collocations include '劫持人质' (kidnap hostages) and '劫持飞机' (hijack an airplane).

劫持 or something close to it

劫持 (jiéchí) vs 拐骗 (guǎipiàn) — use 劫持 for illegal confinement or hijacking, while 拐骗 refers to deceiving or tricking someone, often for personal gain.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 劫持 with similar terms like 绑架 (bǎng jià), which specifically means 'to kidnap' without the hijacking aspect. For example, saying '劫持银行' (hijack a bank) is incorrect; it should be '劫持飞机' for hijacking a plane.

Write 劫持

劫
持

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

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Cultural Notes for 劫持

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While kidnapping and hijacking are serious issues in both cultures, Western contexts may focus more on individual rights and legal repercussions, whereas Chinese discussions may emphasize collective safety and social order.

Frequently asked questions about 劫持

It is pronounced as jié chí, with the second tone on 劫 and the second tone on 持.

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