Learn a Chinese Character - 季

1. Character Basics

Radical: 禾 (hé radical, "grain" radical)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jì

3. Meaning

season, quarter, period, younger brother, ranking fourth among siblings

4. Common Words

• 季节 (jì jié) - season
• 春季 (chūn jì) - spring season
• 夏季 (xià jì) - summer season
• 秋季 (qiū jì) - autumn season
• 冬季 (dōng jì) - winter season
• 季度 (jì dù) - quarter (of a year)

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a noun meaning "season" or "quarter"

2. Can be used to indicate birth order, specifically the fourth sibling

3. Often combined with other characters to form compound words related to time periods

4. In modern Chinese, commonly used in phrases related to weather, agriculture, and business (financial quarters)

6. Cultural Background

The concept of 季 (season) has deep cultural significance in Chinese civilization, which has traditionally been an agricultural society. The four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) have influenced Chinese philosophy, medicine, and daily life for thousands of years. The character's radical 禾 (grain) reflects its connection to agricultural cycles and the importance of understanding seasonal changes for farming.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 季 has 8 strokes. It consists of the 禾 (grain) radical on the left and 子 (child) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "grain growing with the seasons" - which relates to the agricultural origins of the character and its association with the changing seasons throughout the year.