Learn a Chinese Character - 揭

1. Character Basics

Radical: 扌/shǒu (shǒu radical, meaning hand, indicating actions performed with the hand)

Stroke Count: 12

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jiē (first tone)

3. Meaning

To uncover; to reveal; to expose; to lift; to open; to take off; to揭发 (expose); to揭露 (reveal); to揭开 (uncover)

4. Common Words

• 揭露 (jiēlù) - to expose, to reveal

  记者揭露了这个腐败案件。

  Journalists exposed this corruption case.

• 揭开 (jiēkāi) - to uncover, to open

  他揭开了盒子的盖子。

  He opened the lid of the box.

• 揭发 (jiēfā) - to report, to expose

  有人揭发了他的违法行为。

  Someone reported his illegal activities.

• 揭晓 (jiēxiǎo) - to announce, to make known

  比赛结果将在明天揭晓。

  The competition results will be announced tomorrow.

• 揭示 (jiēshì) - to reveal, to demonstrate

  这个研究揭示了一个重要规律。

  This research reveals an important law.

• 揭牌 (jiēpái) - to unveil a plaque, to inaugurate

  新医院今天举行了揭牌仪式。

  The new hospital held an inauguration ceremony today.

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 揭 is primarily used as a verb with several important grammatical patterns:

• Transitive verb pattern:

  Used with an object to indicate the action of uncovering or revealing

  Example: 他揭了真相。 (He revealed the truth.)

• Compound verbs:

  Frequently combined with other characters to form compound verbs

  Examples: 揭露 (jiēlù) - to expose, 揭发 (jiēfā) - to report

• In the structure "揭+名词":

  Used to indicate uncovering or revealing a specific thing

  Examples: 揭秘密 (reveal a secret), 揭盖子 (lift the lid)

• In formal or journalistic contexts:

  Often used in news reports and formal writing to describe exposing wrongdoing

  Example: 媒体揭露了这起丑闻。 (The media exposed this scandal.)

• In idiomatic expressions:

  Used in various idioms with specific meanings

  Example: 揭竿而起 (jiē gān ér qǐ) - to raise the standard of revolt

• In neutral or positive contexts:

  Can also be used in neutral or positive contexts, not just exposing negative things

  Examples: 揭晓答案 (announce the answer), 揭幕仪式 (unveiling ceremony)

揭 is a powerful character that plays an important role in expressing the action of uncovering, revealing, or exposing in Chinese.

6. Cultural Background

The character 揭 has significant cultural implications in Chinese society:

• The idiom 揭竿而起 (jiē gān ér qǐ) comes from the historical story of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang leading a peasant uprising during the Qin Dynasty, symbolizing the courage to rise up against oppression.
• In traditional Chinese culture, 揭开 (uncovering) is often associated with revealing the truth or discovering something hidden.
• The concept of 揭发 (reporting wrongdoings) has both positive connotations of upholding justice and negative connotations of betrayal, depending on the context.
• Chinese philosophy emphasizes the importance of 诚 (honesty) and 真 (truth), which aligns with the function of 揭 in revealing what is true or real.
• In modern Chinese society, investigative journalism that 揭露 (exposes) corruption and social issues is both celebrated and sometimes faces challenges.
• Ceremonial events like 揭牌 (unveiling plaques) are important in Chinese culture for inaugurating new buildings, institutions, or projects.

The character 揭 thus represents not just a physical action, but also the cultural values of truth-seeking, justice, and the courage to reveal what is hidden in Chinese society.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 揭 (jiē) can be broken down into two parts:

• The left part is 扌 (shǒu), the hand radical, which indicates that this character is related to actions performed with the hand.
• The right part is 曷 (hé), which provides the pronunciation clue and was originally a character meaning "what" or "how".

To remember this character:

1. Associate the 扌 radical with actions performed by the hand, such as uncovering, lifting, or opening.
2. Practice writing the character several times, focusing on the correct stroke order: first the 扌 radical on the left, then the 曷 part on the right.
3. Connect the character to its most common use in phrases like 揭露真相 (reveal the truth) or 揭开盖子 (lift the lid).
4. Use mnemonics: Imagine using your hand (扌) to "揭" something, like peeling back a curtain to reveal what's behind it.
5. Learn the character's multiple meanings by using it in different contexts, from physical actions (揭海报 - take down a poster) to abstract concepts (揭露谎言 - expose a lie).
6. Notice that 揭 and 接 (jiē) have the same pronunciation but different radicals and meanings - remembering this distinction can help solidify both characters in your memory.