及

jí

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

jí (particle) and; to; up to

jí (verb) to reach; to catch up with

Etymology

Pictograph of a hand (又) reaching to grab a person (人).

About

The ancient character 及 combines 人 (rén, person) and 又 (yòu, hand) to depict a hand grabbing a person from behind, illustrating the act of catching up. This image yielded core meanings: to reach a destination, attain a level, catch up with someone, or arrive in time for an event. The idea of extending toward something also led to 及 being used as a conjunction meaning 'and' or 'as well as,' connecting nouns by suggesting an extension from one item to the next.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我及时完成了作业。

Wǒ jíshí wánchéng le zuòyè.

I completed my homework on time.

他买了苹果以及橙子。

Tā mǎi le píngguǒ yǐjí chéngzi.

He bought apples and oranges.

他数学考试及格了。

Tā shùxué kǎoshì jígé le.

He passed the math exam.

这件事涉及多个部门。

Zhè jiàn shì shèjí duō gè bùmén.

This matter involves multiple departments.

电脑普及改变了生活。

Diànnǎo pǔjí gǎibiàn le shēnghuó.

The popularization of computers has changed life.

我来不及去看电影了。

Wǒ láibují qù kàn diànyǐng le.

I don't have time to go see the movie.

你现在准备还来得及。

Nǐ xiànzài zhǔnbèi hái láidéjí.

You still have time to prepare now.

学习外语及文化很有必要。

Xuéxí wàiyǔ jí wénhuà hěn yǒu bìyào.

Learning foreign languages and culture is very necessary.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 及

Example Words