Learn a Chinese Character - 竟

1. Character Basics

Radical: 立/lì (stand)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jìng (fourth tone)

3. Meaning

actually, unexpectedly, finish, complete

4. Common Words

• 竟然 (jìng rán) - unexpectedly, surprisingly
• 毕竟 (bì jìng) - after all, in the final analysis
• 究竟 (jiū jìng) - actually, after all, exactly
• 竟日 (jìng rì) - all day long
• 竟夜 (jìng yè) - all night long
• 未竟 (wèi jìng) - unfinished, incomplete

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mainly used as an adverb or verb

Usage Patterns:

• 作为副词: 竟然 (unexpectedly); 毕竟 (after all)
• 作为动词: 竟日 (all day long); 竟夜 (all night long)
• 与其他字组合: 究竟 (exactly); 未竟 (unfinished)

Note: "竟" is commonly used to express unexpectedness or completeness in Chinese sentences.

6. Cultural Background

Linguistic Significance: "竟" often conveys a sense of unexpectedness or completeness in Chinese language, reflecting the cultural value of expressing surprise or emphasizing a point.

Classical Chinese: In classical Chinese, "竟" could mean "to end" or "to complete", which is still reflected in some modern usages.

Everyday Usage: "竟" is commonly used in both written and spoken Chinese, showing its importance in daily communication.

Idioms and Proverbs: There are many Chinese idioms and proverbs that use "竟", often to express unexpected outcomes or the completion of something.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character Breakdown: The character "竟" consists of "立" (lì, stand) on top and "儿" (ér, child) at the bottom, with "日" (rì, sun) in the middle. Together, they can be thought of as a child standing under the sun until the day is completed.

Mnemonic Device: Imagine a child standing under the sun all day long (竟日) until the day is completed.

Word Association: Connect "竟" with the common word "竟然" (jìng rán - unexpectedly) to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Sound-Alike Memory: The pronunciation "jìng" is similar to "镜" (jìng, mirror), "静" (jìng, quiet), "净" (jìng, clean), and "竞" (jìng, compete), but the meanings are different, so be careful not to confuse them.