Learn a Chinese Character - 纪

1. Character Basics

Radical: 纟 (sī radical, "silk" radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jì

3. Meaning

to discipline, to record, to chronicle, to mark, period, era

4. Common Words

• 纪念 (jì niàn) - to commemorate, commemoration
• 纪律 (jì lǜ) - discipline, order
• 世纪 (shì jì) - century
• 纪录 (jì lù) - record, to record
• 纪实 (jì shí) - documentary, on-the-spot report
• 纪年 (jì nián) - era, chronological era

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a verb meaning "to discipline" or "to record"

2. Often used as a noun meaning "period" or "era"

3. Can be combined with other characters to form compound words related to time periods or recording

4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in historical, educational, and organizational contexts

6. Cultural Background

The character 纪 has deep cultural significance in Chinese history. It is often used in words related to time periods, discipline, and commemoration. Historically, it has been associated with record-keeping, which was highly valued in Chinese civilization for preserving history, literature, and cultural knowledge. The radical 纟 (silk) suggests a connection to ancient writing materials like silk scrolls.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 纪 has 6 strokes. It consists of the 纟 (silk) radical on the left and 己 (self) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "silk thread around yourself" - which relates to the idea of discipline (binding yourself with rules) or recording (threading information together).