Chinese Character: 激
1. Character Basics
Radical: 氵/water radical
Stroke Count: 16
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jī
3. Meaning
arouse, excite, stimulate, surge
4. Common Words
- 激动 (jī dòng) - excited, stirred
- 激情 (jī qíng) - passion, enthusiasm
- 激发 (jī fā) - to arouse, to stimulate
- 激烈 (jī liè) - intense, fierce
- 激光 (jī guāng) - laser
- 激励 (jī lì) - to encourage, to inspire
5. Grammar & Usage
"激" is often used as a verb to mean "to excite" or "to stimulate". It can also function as an adjective describing something intense or fierce.
Common usage patterns:
- 激动人心 (jī dòng rén xīn) - exciting, stirring
- 激起 (jī qǐ) - to arouse, to stir up
- 激愤 (jī fèn) - indignant, incensed
- 激光技术 (jī guāng jì shù) - laser technology
When used in verbs, it often takes an object that represents the emotion or action being aroused.
6. Cultural Background
The character "激" combines the "氵" (water) radical with a phonetic component. Its original meaning was related to water surging or flowing rapidly. Over time, it evolved to encompass metaphorical meanings of stirring up emotions or actions.
In Chinese culture, concepts related to "激" often involve strong emotions, intense actions, or the stimulation of potential. The word "激励" (jī lì) is frequently used in educational and professional contexts to describe encouraging someone to reach their full potential.
7. Example Sentence
听到这个消息，他很激动。
Pronunciation: Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā hěn jī dòng.
Translation: He was very excited when he heard this news.
8. Memory Tips
Remember "激" by breaking it down:
- Left side: "氵" (water radical) - think of water surging or flowing rapidly
- Right side: a complex component that provides the pronunciation "jī"
- Imagine water surging so powerfully that it excites or stimulates movement - this connects to the character's meaning
You can also associate it with common words like "激动" (jī dòng), which describes the feeling of being stirred emotionally, similar to how water can be stirred into motion.