Learn a Chinese Character - 晋

1. Character Basics

Radical: 日/rì (sun radical)

Stroke Count: 10

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jìn (fourth tone)

3. Meaning

To advance, to promote, Jin Dynasty, Shanxi province abbreviation

4. Common Words

• 晋升 (jìn shēng): To be promoted
• 晋级 (jìn jí): To advance to the next level
• 晋见 (jìn jiàn): To have an audience with (someone of higher rank)
• 晋剧 (jìn jù): Shanxi opera
• 东晋 (Dōng Jìn): Eastern Jin Dynasty
• 西晋 (Xī Jìn): Western Jin Dynasty

5. Grammar & Usage

As a verb:
- 晋升职务 (jìn shēng zhí wù): To be promoted to a higher position
- 晋级比赛 (jìn jí bǐ sài): To advance to the next round of a competition

As a noun:
- 晋代 (Jìn dài): The Jin Dynasty
- 晋省 (Jìn shěng): Shanxi province (abbreviation)

In idioms:
- 加官晋爵 (jiā guān jìn jué): To receive promotions and titles
- 晋职加薪 (jìn zhí jiā xīn): To get a promotion and a raise
- 秦晋之好 (Qín Jìn zhī hǎo): Marriage alliance between two families

Usage patterns:
- Often used in formal contexts related to career advancement
- Used in historical references to the Jin Dynasty
- Serves as the official abbreviation for Shanxi province in China
- Can be combined with other characters to form words about progress or promotion

6. Cultural Background

The character 晋 holds significant historical and cultural meaning in China:

Historical significance:
- The Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD) was an important period in Chinese history, divided into Western Jin and Eastern Jin
- This era saw significant developments in literature, art, and philosophy

Geographical importance:
- 晋 is the official abbreviation for Shanxi province in northern China
- Shanxi has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional Shanxi opera (晋剧) and architecture

Cultural connotations:
- The character has positive connotations related to advancement, promotion, and success
- In traditional Chinese culture, promotion in officialdom was highly valued, and 晋 was often used in this context

Modern relevance:
- The character remains in common use for career-related contexts
- It continues to serve as the abbreviation for Shanxi province in official documents and media

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character breakdown:
- 日 (rì, sun) at the bottom
- 亚 (yà, second, inferior) on top

Mnemonic:
Imagine the sun (日) shining on something that is rising (亚), representing advancement or promotion.

Visual association:
The structure of 晋 can be thought of as something rising or advancing above the sun, which aligns with its meaning of promotion and advancement. The 日 radical at the bottom provides a stable foundation for the character.