Learn a Chinese Character - 尽

1. Character Basics

Radical: 尸/shī (corpse radical)

Stroke Count: 6

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jìn (fourth tone) / jǐn (third tone)

3. Meaning

To exhaust, to use up, to the utmost, completely, all

4. Common Words

• 尽力 (jìn lì): To do one's best, to try one's hardest
• 尽管 (jǐn guǎn): Even though, despite, go ahead
• 尽头 (jìn tóu): End, limit, termination
• 尽快 (jìn kuài): As soon as possible
• 尽情 (jìn qíng): To one's heart's content, fully
• 竭尽全力 (jié jìn quán lì): To spare no effort, to do everything possible

5. Grammar & Usage

Pronunciation variations:
- jìn (fourth tone): When meaning "to exhaust" or "end" - jǐn (third tone): When meaning "as much as possible" or "despite"

As a verb:
- 用尽 (yòng jìn): To use up, exhaust
- 耗尽 (hào jìn): To consume completely

As an adverb:
- 尽量 (jǐn liàng): As far as possible, to the best of one's ability
- 尽管 (jǐn guǎn): Even though, despite

In idioms:
- 人尽其才 (rén jìn qí cái): Each person fully uses their talent
- 尽善尽美 (jìn shàn jìn měi): Perfect, flawless
- 山穷水尽 (shān qióng shuǐ jìn): At the end of one's rope, desperate

Usage patterns:
- Often used in expressions related to completion, maximum effort, or limitation
- Can form compound words with both literal and abstract meanings

6. Cultural Background

The character 尽 holds significant cultural meaning in Chinese thought:

Philosophical significance:
- In Confucian teachings, 尽体现了追求极致、尽心尽力的精神
(In Confucian teachings, 尽 embodies the spirit of pursuing excellence and doing one's utmost)
- The concept of 尽心 (jìn xīn) - with all one's heart - is important in Chinese ethics

Cultural expressions:
- The idea of 尽孝 (jìn xiào) - fulfilling filial duties to the utmost - is deeply rooted in Chinese culture
- 尽地主之谊 (jìn dì zhǔ zhī yì) - to act as a good host, showing hospitality to the fullest

Traditional wisdom:
- Chinese culture values the principle of 尽力而为 (jìn lì ér wéi) - doing one's best regardless of the outcome
- The balance between doing one's best (尽) and accepting limitations is a recurring theme in Chinese philosophy

Modern relevance:
- The character remains widely used in contemporary Chinese to express commitment, completion, and thoroughness

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character breakdown:
- 尸 (shī, corpse radical) on the top
- 尺 (chǐ, Chinese foot/measure) on the bottom

Mnemonic:
Imagine measuring (尺) something to its end (尸), representing the concept of "to the utmost" or "completely".

Visual association:
The character's structure suggests something reaching its limit or boundary, which aligns with its meaning of exhaustion or completion. The combination of the radical and the bottom part creates a visual representation of finality.