Learn a Chinese Character - 革

1. Character Basics

Radical: 革 (gé, leather/skin, is a radical itself)

Stroke Count: 9

Structure Analysis: 独体字 (Single component character) - evolved from an ancient pictograph representing animal hide stretched out to dry, showing the纹理 (texture) of leather.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gé (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: Leather; skin; revolution; change

The character "革" originally referred to animal hide or leather. Over time, it extended to mean "change" or "revolution" because leather processing involves transforming raw material, symbolizing transformation and renewal.

4. Common Words

• 革命 (gé mìng) - Revolution

  Examples: 辛亥革命是中国历史上的重要事件。(Xīnhài Gémìng shì Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng de zhòngyào shìjiàn. - The Xinhai Revolution is an important event in Chinese history.)

• 皮革 (pí gé) - Leather

  Examples: 这种皮革很柔软。(Zhè zhǒng pígé hěn róuruǎn. - This kind of leather is very soft.)

• 改革 (gǎi gé) - Reform

  Examples: 中国的改革开放政策促进了经济发展。(Zhōngguó de gǎigé kāifàng zhèngcè cùjìnle jīngjì fāzhǎn. - China's reform and opening-up policy promoted economic development.)

• 革新 (gé xīn) - Innovation; renovation

  Examples: 科技革新改变了我们的生活方式。(Kējì géxīn gǎibiànle wǒmen de shēnghuó fāngshì. - Technological innovation has changed our way of life.)

• 变革 (biàn gé) - Transformation; change

  Examples: 社会变革需要时间和努力。(Shèhuì biàngé xūyào shíjiān hé nǔlì. - Social transformation requires time and effort.)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Primarily used as a noun (leather, revolution) or as a morpheme in compound words

Usage Patterns:

• As a noun: 这种革质量很好。(Zhè zhǒng gé zhìliàng hěn hǎo. - This kind of leather is of good quality.)
• In compound words: 革命是历史的火车头。(Gémìng shì lìshǐ de huǒchētóu. - Revolution is the locomotive of history.)
• As a verb element: 我们需要革新观念。(Wǒmen xūyào géxīn guānniàn. - We need to innovate our concepts.)

Common Collocations:

• 革职 (gé zhí) - Remove from office
• 革除 (gé chú) - Eliminate; abolish
• 革新技术 (géxīn jìshù) - Innovate technology
• 革命精神 (gémìng jīngshén) - Revolutionary spirit
• 皮革工业 (pígé gōngyè) - Leather industry

6. Cultural Background

Historical Significance: In ancient China, leatherworking was an important craft, and "革" was closely associated with making armor, shoes, and other leather goods. The character appears in the oracle bone script (甲骨文) dating back over 3,000 years.

Cultural Symbolism: The extended meaning of "revolution" or "change" makes "革" a powerful symbol in Chinese culture. It represents transformation, progress, and the courage to break from old traditions for the better.

Modern Relevance: Today, "革" is widely used in political, social, and technological contexts, such as 改革开放 (reform and opening-up) and 技术革新 (technological innovation), reflecting China's emphasis on progress and development.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Component Analysis: As a single-component character, focus on its shape. The top part resembles a stretched hide, while the bottom strokes suggest the texture of leather.

Visual Association: Imagine a piece of animal hide being processed and stretched out to dry, which connects to the original meaning of leather.

Vocabulary Family: Learn related words together: 革 (leather/revolution), 革命 (revolution), 改革 (reform), 革新 (innovation), 皮革 (leather). This reinforces the character's dual meanings.

Memory Phrase: Create a memorable phrase: "皮革需要变革" (Pígé xūyào biàngé. - Leather needs transformation). This helps associate both the original and extended meanings.