Learn a Chinese Character - 剂

1. Character Basics

Radical: 刀/刂 (dāo radical, "knife" radical)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jì

3. Meaning

medicine, dose, agent, preparation, measure, dose

4. Common Words

• 药剂 (yào jì) - medicine, pharmaceutical preparation
• 剂量 (jì liàng) - dose, dosage
• 试剂 (shì jì) - reagent, test agent
• 杀虫剂 (shā chóng jì) - insecticide, pesticide
• 催化剂 (cuī huà jì) - catalyst
• 冲剂 (chōng jì) - medicinal granules

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a noun meaning "medicine" or "dose"

2. Often used as a suffix in compound words to indicate a type of preparation or agent

3. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in technical or scientific settings

4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in the fields of medicine, chemistry, and agriculture

6. Cultural Background

The character 剂 has been used in Chinese for thousands of years, originally referring to measures or portions. Over time, it evolved to specifically refer to medicinal preparations. Traditional Chinese medicine has a rich history of using various herbal preparations and formulations, many of which are still used today alongside modern pharmaceutical products.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 剂 has 8 strokes. It consists of 齐 (整齐/even) and 刂 (knife) radicals. You can remember it by thinking of "cutting into even portions" - which relates to the idea of measured doses or preparations that are carefully formulated.