Chinese Character: 即
1. Character Basics
Radical: 卩 (jié radical, meaning "seal" or "signet")
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jí
3. Meaning
namely, to approach, to be near, immediate, right away
4. Common Words
- 即使 (jí shǐ) - even if
- 立即 (lì jí) - immediately
- 即将 (jí jiāng) - about to
- 即位 (jí wèi) - to ascend the throne
- 即是 (jí shì) - that is
5. Grammar & Usage
1. Often used as an adverb to mean "immediately" or "right away"
2. Used as a conjunction to mean "even if" when paired with 使 (shǐ)
3. Can be used as a verb meaning "to approach" or "to come near"
6. Cultural Background
In classical Chinese, 即 had the primary meaning of "to approach" or "to come near". It was often used to describe someone approaching a place or a state of being. Over time, it evolved to also mean "immediate" or "right away" in modern Chinese.
7. Example Sentence
即使下雨，我们也要去公园。
Pronunciation: Jí shǐ xià yǔ, wǒ men yě yào qù gōng yuán.
Translation: Even if it rains, we still want to go to the park.
8. Memory Tips
To remember 即, think of it as a person (卩) approaching a food container (皀), representing the concept of "coming near" or "approaching". The top part 皀 was originally a pictograph of a food container, and the bottom part 卩 represents a person kneeling or standing. Together, they convey the idea of approaching something.