Learn a Chinese Character - 颈

1. Character Basics

Radical: 页/yè (page radical)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jǐng (third tone)

3. Meaning

neck

4. Common Words

• 颈部 (jǐng bù) - neck
• 颈椎 (jǐng zhuī) - cervical vertebrae
• 长颈鹿 (cháng jǐng lù) - giraffe
• 瓶颈 (píng jǐng) - bottleneck
• 颈子 (jǐng zi) - neck (colloquial)
• 刎颈之交 (wěn jǐng zhī jiāo) - close friend (literally: friends willing to die for each other)

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun

Usage Patterns:

• 作为名词: 颈部 (neck); 颈椎 (cervical vertebrae)
• 与其他字组合: 长颈鹿 (giraffe); 瓶颈 (bottleneck)
• 成语用法: 刎颈之交 (close friend)

Note: "颈" is more commonly used in written Chinese or formal contexts. In spoken Chinese, "脖子" (bó zi) is often used instead.

6. Cultural Background

Traditional Medicine: In traditional Chinese medicine, the neck is considered an important part of the body's energy pathways. Issues with the neck are often addressed in acupuncture and massage therapies.

Idiomatic Expressions: Chinese idioms related to the neck often carry profound cultural meanings, such as "刎颈之交" (wěn jǐng zhī jiāo), which describes a friendship so deep that friends are willing to die for each other.

Historical Significance: The character "颈" has been used in Chinese writing for thousands of years to refer to the neck, appearing in ancient texts and classical literature.

Modern Usage: Beyond its literal meaning, "颈" is also used in various technical terms, particularly in anatomy and medicine, to refer to neck-related structures.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character Breakdown: The character "颈" consists of 巠 (jīng) on the left and 页 (yè) on the right. 页 originally meant "head" in ancient Chinese, so combining it with 巠 gives the meaning of "neck" - the part connecting the head to the body.

Mnemonic Device: Imagine the left part 巠 as the shape of a neck, and the right part 页 as a head attached to it.

Word Association: Connect "颈" with the common word "长颈鹿" (cháng jǐng lù - giraffe) to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Sound-Alike Memory: The pronunciation "jǐng" is similar to the English word "neck" when spoken quickly, which can help with memorization.