Chinese Character: 继
1. Character Basics
Radical: 纟/糹 (sī radical, "silk" radical)
Stroke Count: 10
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jì
3. Meaning
to continue, to succeed, to follow, to inherit, to carry on, to go on with
4. Common Words
- 继续 (jì xù) - to continue, to go on
- 继承 (jì chéng) - to inherit, to succeed to
- 继任 (jì rèn) - to succeed to a post, to take over
- 后继有人 (hòu jì yǒu rén) - to have successors
- 继续前进 (jì xù qián jìn) - to keep moving forward
- 继往开来 (jì wǎng kāi lái) - to carry on the past and open up the future
5. Grammar & Usage
1. Used as a verb meaning "to continue" or "to succeed"
2. Often used in the structure "继续做某事" (jì xù zuò mǒu shì) meaning "to continue to do something"
3. Can be used with both concrete and abstract nouns
4. In formal Chinese, often used in contexts related to inheritance, succession, and continuation
6. Cultural Background
The character 继 has deep cultural significance in Chinese civilization, particularly in relation to family, tradition, and succession. In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 继承 (jì chéng - inheritance) extends beyond material wealth to include cultural heritage, family traditions, and moral values. The character is often used in the context of passing down knowledge, skills, and cultural practices from one generation to the next, reflecting the importance of continuity in Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
我们需要继续努力学习。
Pronunciation: Wǒ men xū yào jì xù nǔ lì xué xí.
Translation: We need to continue studying hard.
8. Memory Tips
The character 继 has 10 strokes. It consists of the 纟 (silk) radical on the left and 㡭 (a character component) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "silk being continued or woven" - which connects to its meaning of continuing, succeeding, or carrying on. The silk radical also relates to the idea of something that is connected or continuous.