Learn a Chinese Character - 及

1. Character Basics

Radical: 丿/pie radical

Stroke Count: 3

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jí

3. Meaning

and, to reach, up to, as well as

4. Common Words

• 及时 (jí shí) - in time, timely
• 以及 (yǐ jí) - and, as well as
• 及格 (jí gé) - to pass (an exam), to reach the standard
• 普及 (pǔ jí) - to popularize, to spread
• 涉及 (shè jí) - to involve, to relate to
• 顾及 (gù jí) - to take into account, to consider

5. Grammar & Usage

"及" has two main functions:

1. As a conjunction: Used to connect words or phrases, similar to "and" in English. For example: 我喜欢苹果、香蕉及橙子。(Wǒ xǐ huan píng guǒ, xiāng jiāo jí chéng zǐ. - I like apples, bananas, and oranges.)
2. As a verb: Meaning "to reach" or "to attain". For example: 他的成绩不及我的好。(Tā de chéng jì bù jí wǒ de hǎo. - His grades don't reach mine.)

It is often used in more formal writing and speech, while in colloquial Chinese, "和" (hé) is more commonly used as a conjunction.

6. Cultural Background

The character "及" dates back to ancient Chinese script, where it originally depicted a hand reaching out to catch or touch something. This imagery reflects its core meaning of "reaching" or "attaining".

In Chinese culture, the concept of "及时" (jí shí - timely) is highly valued, emphasizing the importance of acting at the right moment. This is reflected in proverbs like "及时当勉励，岁月不待人" (Jí shí dāng miǎn lì, suì yuè bù dài rén), which means "Strive while it's time, for time waits for no one."

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

"及" is a simple character with only 3 strokes:

1. Start with the撇 (piě - left-falling stroke) at the top
2. Add the横折折撇 (héng zhé zhé piě - horizontal, two folds, left-falling)
3. Finish with the捺 (nà - right-falling stroke)

To remember the meaning, think of the original pictographic representation: a hand reaching out to touch or reach something. This connects to its meanings of "to reach" and "as well as" (including something by reaching it).

You can also associate it with common words like "及时" (jí shí - timely), which is a frequently used expression in daily life.