About
The character "济" derives from the traditional form "濟", which structurally combines the water radical (氵) with the component "齊", the latter acting primarily as a phonetic indicator while also carrying connotations of uniformity or arrangement. In its simplified iteration, the right-hand component is reduced to "齐", a streamlined version of "齊", whereas the water radical is retained to sustain the character's semantic link to liquid or flow. Etymologically, "濟" initially referred to fording a river or effectively managing water, a sense that naturally extended to broader meanings of providing aid, relief, or benefit. Over centuries, its application expanded beyond physical assistance to abstract usages, such as in the term "经济" where it pertains to the regulation or governance of resources, and in "救济" where it signifies delivering help or support, demonstrating a gradual semantic shift from concrete aquatic actions to encompass societal and economic functions.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
经济发展很重要。
救济灾民刻不容缓。
济南是山东省的省会。
这个项目需要更多资金才能办成。
医生以济世为怀。
公司致力于济困扶贫事业。
他始终怀有兼济天下的抱负。
这些措施能否有效地济事，还需实践检验。