Learn a Chinese Character - 计

Chinese Character:

1. Character Basics

Radical: 讠 (yán radical, "speech" radical)

Stroke Count: 4

Stroke Order:

Stroke Order Animation

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin:

3. Meaning

to plan, to calculate, to count, strategy, meter (unit of measurement)

4. Common Words

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a verb meaning "to plan" or "to calculate"

2. Often used as a noun meaning "plan" or "strategy"

3. Can be combined with other characters to form compound words related to planning, calculation, or design

4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in business, mathematics, and everyday planning contexts

6. Cultural Background

The character 计 reflects the importance of planning and calculation in Chinese culture. Historically, this character has been associated with strategic thinking, which was highly valued in ancient Chinese philosophy and military strategy. The radical 讠 (speech) suggests that planning often involves communication and discussion.

7. Example Sentence

我们需要制定一个计划。

Pronunciation: Wǒ men xū yào zhì dìng yī gè jì huà.

Translation: We need to make a plan.

8. Memory Tips

The character 计 has 4 strokes. It consists of the 讠 (speech) radical on the left and 十 (ten) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "talking about numbers" - which relates to both calculation and planning.

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