京

jīng

亠 + 口 + 小

Definitions

jīng (noun) capital city

Jīng (noun) Beijing (abbr.)

Etymology

Pictograph of a tall building. Similar to 高. Based on the original meaning "high place". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "capital city".

About

京 is a pictograph of a tall building on a raised platform, similar to 高. Originally it depicted structures like watchtowers or elevated granaries, conveying the meaning "high place". Over time, because capitals were commonly sited on high ground with commanding structures, the meaning shifted to "capital city". Today, it is the standard character for capital cities and can represent a vast number in some numerical systems.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

北京天气很好。

Běijīng tiānqì hěn hǎo.

Beijing's weather is very good.

京剧很好看。

Jīngjù hěn hǎokàn.

Beijing opera is very interesting.

京菜很有名。

Jīngcài hěn yǒumíng.

Beijing cuisine is very famous.

北京有很多古迹。

Běijīng yǒu hěnduō gǔjì.

Beijing has many historical sites.

我准备进京学习。

Wǒ zhǔnbèi jìn jīng xuéxí.

I am preparing to go to the capital to study.

京广铁路连接南北。

Jīng Guǎng tiělù liánjiē nán běi.

The Beijing-Guangzhou railway connects north and south.

京味儿文化吸引游客。

Jīngwèir wénhuà xīyǐn yóukè.

Beijing-style culture attracts tourists.

尽管京沪两地距离遥远，但交通很方便。

Jǐnguǎn Jīng Hǔ liǎng dì jùlí yáoyuǎn, dàn jiāotōng hěn fāngbiàn.

Although the distance between Beijing and Shanghai is far, transportation is very convenient.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亠

Component: 口

Component: 小

Example Words