己

jǐ

Definitions

jǐ (noun,pronoun) self; oneself

Etymology

Origin unclear. Possibly a pictograph of a silk rope, in which case would be the original form of 紀.

About

己 (jǐ) is written with three strokes that create a distinctive zigzag shape. Its etymology is obscure, but one theory holds that it was originally a pictograph of a silk rope, in which case it would be the original form of 紀. Today it is widely used as a reflexive pronoun for "self" or "oneself". Beyond this grammatical role, the character also serves as the sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems, a position that makes it part of the traditional sexagenary cycle for counting days and years, calendrical marking, and astrological calculations.

Etymology Hide

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 Spring and Autumn (771-476 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)

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

我自己去上学。

Wǒ zìjǐ qù shàngxué.

I go to school by myself.

他喜欢自己读书。

Tā xǐhuān zìjǐ dúshū.

He likes to read by himself.

我们应该相信自己。

Wǒmen yīnggāi xiāngxìn zìjǐ.

We should believe in ourselves.

孩子学会了自己穿鞋。

Háizi xuéhuìle zìjǐ chuān xié.

The child learned to put on shoes by himself.

她总是先帮助别人再帮助自己。

Tā zǒngshì xiān bāngzhù biérén zài bāngzhù zìjǐ.

She always helps others before helping herself.

在困难时期，人们必须依靠自己。

Zài kùnnan shíqī, rénmen bìxū yīkào zìjǐ.

During difficult times, people must rely on themselves.

了解自己的优点和缺点很重要。

Liǎojiě zìjǐ de yōudiǎn hé quēdiǎn hěn zhòngyào.

Understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses is important.

他坚持己见，不愿接受别人的意见。

Tā jiānchí jǐjiàn, bù yuàn jiēshòu biérén de yìjiàn.

He insists on his own opinion and is unwilling to accept others' opinions.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 己

Example Words