Learn a Chinese Character - 杰

1. Character Basics

Radical: 木/mù (wood radical)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jié (second tone)

3. Meaning

Outstanding; exceptional; hero; heroism; prominent; extraordinary; remarkable; superior; excellent; distinguished

4. Common Words

• 杰出 (jiéchū) - outstanding, exceptional

  他是一位杰出的科学家。

  He is an outstanding scientist.

• 豪杰 (háojié) - hero, outstanding person

  历史上有很多豪杰之士。

  There were many heroes in history.

• 杰作 (jiézuò) - masterpiece, outstanding work

  这是一幅艺术杰作。

  This is an artistic masterpiece.

• 俊杰 (jùnjié) - person of outstanding talent, hero

  他是我们公司的俊杰。

  He is an outstanding talent in our company.

• 人杰地灵 (rénjié dìlíng) - outstanding people and remarkable place

  这个地方真是人杰地灵。

  This place truly has outstanding people and remarkable environment.

• 豪杰之士 (háojié zhīshì) - person of exceptional ability, hero

  他被人们称为豪杰之士。

  He is called a person of exceptional ability by people.

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 杰 has several important grammatical patterns and usages:

• As an adjective:

  Used to describe people or things that are outstanding or exceptional

  Example: 他的成绩很杰出。 (His achievements are very outstanding.)

• As a noun:

  Used to refer to outstanding people or heroes

  Example: 时代需要更多这样的杰。 (The times need more such heroes.)

• In compound adjectives:

  Often combined with other characters to form adjectives meaning 'outstanding' or 'exceptional'

  Examples: 杰出 (outstanding), 俊杰 (talented person)

• In compound nouns:

  Used in nouns referring to outstanding people or works

  Examples: 豪杰 (hero), 杰作 (masterpiece)

• In the structure "杰+名词":

  Where 杰 modifies a noun to indicate it's outstanding

  Examples: 杰人 (outstanding person), 杰才 (exceptional talent)

• In idiomatic expressions:

  Used in various idioms to describe outstanding people or places

  Example: 英雄豪杰 (yīngxióng háojié) - heroes and outstanding people

杰 is a positive character often used to praise and acknowledge excellence in people, works, or achievements.

6. Cultural Background

The character 杰 has rich cultural significance in Chinese society:

• In traditional Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on recognizing and honoring杰出人才 (outstanding talent), which is reflected in the frequent use of the character 杰.
• Chinese history and literature are filled with stories of 豪杰 (heroes) who made significant contributions to their country or people.
• The concept of 人杰地灵 (outstanding people and remarkable place) reflects the traditional Chinese belief that certain places have special energy or qualities that nurture exceptional individuals.
• In modern China, there are various awards and honors that use the character 杰 to recognize outstanding achievements in different fields, such as science, arts, and public service.
• Many Chinese parents choose names containing the character 杰 for their children, hoping that they will grow up to be outstanding individuals.
• The character 杰 is often used in brand names, company names, and product names to convey excellence and superior quality.

The character 杰 thus represents the Chinese cultural value of appreciating and striving for excellence, as well as the recognition of exceptional individuals who contribute to society.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 杰 (jié) can be broken down into two parts:

• The top part is 木 (mù), the wood radical, which means "tree" or "wood".
• The bottom part is 灬 (biāo), which represents "fire" or "flames".

To remember this character:

1. Associate the combination of 木 and 灬 with the idea of a tree growing vigorously even in fire, symbolizing resilience and outstanding qualities.
2. Practice writing the character several times, focusing on the correct stroke order: first the 木 radical, then the four dots of the 灬 component.
3. Connect the character to its most common use in everyday phrases like 杰出 (outstanding) or 豪杰 (hero).
4. Use mnemonics: Imagine a tree (木) that survives and thrives despite fire (灬), becoming even more exceptional - this represents the meaning of 杰.
5. Learn the character's cultural significance by associating it with stories of heroes and outstanding individuals in Chinese history and culture.
6. Notice how 杰 appears in compound words with related positive meanings, and learn these compounds together to expand your vocabulary.