Learn a Chinese Character - 金

1. Character Basics

Radical: 金/jīn (gold radical) - 金 is a radical itself

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jīn (first tone)

3. Meaning

Gold, metal, money, golden, valuable, precious, yellow (color), finance, wealth, currency, metal element (in Chinese philosophy), golden age, excellent, superior

4. Common Words

• 金色 (jīn sè) - gold color

  她穿着一件金色的连衣裙。

  She is wearing a gold-colored dress.

• 黄金 (huáng jīn) - gold

  黄金是一种贵重金属。

  Gold is a precious metal.

• 金属 (jīn shǔ) - metal

  这把刀是用金属做的。

  This knife is made of metal.

• 金钱 (jīn qián) - money

  金钱不是万能的。

  Money isn't everything.

• 金融 (jīn róng) - finance

  他在金融行业工作。

  He works in the finance industry.

• 金子 (jīn zi) - gold

  这块金子很纯。

  This gold is very pure.

5. Grammar & Usage

The character 金 has several important grammatical patterns and usages:

• As a noun:

  Refers to gold, metals, or money

  Examples: 金器 (golden utensils), 五金 (hardware), 奖金 (bonus)

• As an adjective:

  Describes something golden or valuable

  Examples: 金婚 (golden wedding anniversary), 金秋 (golden autumn)

• As a radical:

  金 is an important radical in Chinese characters, often found in characters related to metals, money, or valuable items

  Examples: 银 (silver), 铜 (copper), 铁 (iron), 钢 (steel), 钱 (money), 钻 (diamond)

• In idiomatic expressions:

  金碧辉煌 (resplendent and magnificent)

  金戈铁马 (armored horses and iron weapons, referring to war)

  金科玉律 (golden rules, established principles)

  金玉满堂 (abundant wealth and treasures)

• In proper nouns:

  金 is a common Chinese surname

  Used in place names like 金华 (Jinhua city)

• In measure words:

  金 can be used as a measure word for certain gold items

  Example: 一金 (a piece of gold)

The character 金 is widely used in Chinese to refer to gold, metals, money, and valuable things. It is also an important cultural symbol with deep significance.

6. Cultural Background

The character 金 holds profound cultural significance in Chinese society:

• In Chinese culture, gold symbolizes wealth, nobility, and power. It has been highly valued for thousands of years and was used by emperors and nobility.
• The color gold (金色) is associated with the emperor and imperial power in traditional Chinese culture. Only the emperor was allowed to wear clothing with gold embroidery.
• In Chinese philosophy, 金 is one of the Five Elements (五行: wood, fire, earth, metal, water). It is associated with the season autumn, the direction west, and certain qualities like strength and precision.
• The Chinese New Year often involves decorations with gold color, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.
• Gold is an important part of traditional Chinese weddings, with gold jewelry given as gifts to symbolize a prosperous and lasting marriage.
• The Chinese character for gold has evolved over thousands of years, with ancient oracle bone inscriptions depicting a bell or container holding metal.
• Many Chinese idioms and proverbs use 金 to express ideas about value, wealth, and excellence, reflecting its deep cultural significance.
• In Chinese medicine, the concept of 金 is used in diagnosis and treatment, particularly related to the lungs and respiratory system according to traditional Chinese medical theory.

Overall, the character 金 is not just a simple word for a metal; it is a powerful cultural symbol that embodies important values and beliefs in Chinese society.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 金 (jīn) has 8 strokes. Here are some tips to help you remember it:

1. Visualize the character as a stylized representation of gold or metal. The top part looks like a roof or cover, and the bottom part resembles a container holding something valuable.
2. Notice that 金 has the same pronunciation as 今 (jīn) and 斤 (jīn), but different meanings and written forms. This can help you distinguish between these similar-sounding characters.
3. Remember that 金 is an important radical in Chinese characters. Learning characters that use 金 as a radical, such as 银 (silver), 铜 (copper), and 铁 (iron), can help reinforce your memory.
4. Use mnemonics: Imagine the character 金 as a treasure chest filled with gold, representing its meaning as something valuable.
5. Practice writing the character several times, focusing on the correct stroke order. The character has a somewhat complex structure, so take your time to master each stroke.
6. Connect the character to common phrases and idioms like "黄金" (gold) and "金碧辉煌" (resplendent and magnificent) to reinforce its meaning and usage.

With its cultural significance and frequent use in Chinese language, 金 is a fundamental character that every Chinese language learner should master.