汲

jí

及 + 氵

Definitions

jí (verb) to draw (water)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 及 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 及

About

Formed as a phono-semantic compound, 汲 (jí) combines the semantic radical 氵 (shuǐ, water) on the left, indicating its association with water-related actions, with the phonetic component 及 (jí) on the right, which provides its pronunciation. Its core meaning is the act of drawing water from a well or deep source. This literal action is often extended metaphorically to describe eagerly absorbing or extracting abstract things like knowledge or inspiration from experiences.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

农民从河里汲水。

Nóngmín cóng hé lǐ jí shuǐ.

Farmers draw water from the river.

每天早晨，她都去井边汲水。

Měitiān zǎochén, tā dōu qù jǐng biān jí shuǐ.

Every morning, she goes to the well to draw water.

植物从土壤中汲取水分。

Zhíwù cóng tǔrǎng zhōng jíqǔ shuǐfèn.

Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

我们从经验中汲取教训。

Wǒmen cóng jīngyàn zhōng jíqǔ jiàoxun.

We learn lessons from experience.

他汲了一桶水来浇花。

Tā jí le yī tǒng shuǐ lái jiāo huā.

He drew a bucket of water to water the flowers.

她先汲水，然后烧水喝茶。

Tā xiān jí shuǐ, ránhòu shāo shuǐ hē chá.

She first draws water, then boils it to drink tea.

在干旱地区，人们必须每天长途跋涉去汲水。

Zài gānhàn dìqū, rénmen bìxū měitiān chángtú báshè qù jí shuǐ.

In arid regions, people must trek long distances every day to draw water.

通过阅读，我们可以汲取古今中外的智慧。

Tōngguò yuèdú, wǒmen kěyǐ jíqǔ gǔjīn zhōngwài de zhìhuì.

Through reading, we can draw wisdom from all ages and cultures.

Related Characters

Component: 及

Component: 氵

汲