界

jiè

介 + 田

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

jiè (noun) boundary; limit; scope; extent

jiè (noun) primary division; kingdom

jiè (noun) circles

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 田 represents the meaning and 介 represents the sound.

Semantic: 田 Phonetic: 介

About

界 is a phono-semantic compound where the upper element 田 ('field') provides the semantic category of farmland, while the lower element 介 ('jiè') gives the sound. Since 介 also means 'to be situated between,' it adds a subtle layer of meaning, a boundary or dividing line. The character first denoted the physical border between agricultural plots. From this concrete start, it expanded to signify the frontiers of countries, the parameters of scholarly disciplines, distinct social strata or industries, and ultimately the entire world or cosmos.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个世界很美丽。

Zhè ge shìjiè hěn měilì.

This world is beautiful.

互联网连接了全世界。

Hùliánwǎng liánjiē le quán shìjiè.

The internet connects the whole world.

我们国家的边界很长。

Wǒmen guójiā de biānjiè hěn cháng.

The border of our country is long.

他在科学界很有名。

Tā zài kēxué jiè hěn yǒumíng.

He is famous in the scientific community.

在商业界，诚信非常重要。

Zài shāngyè jiè, chéngxìn fēicháng zhòngyào.

In the business world, integrity is very important.

我们需要打破传统界限。

Wǒmen xūyào dǎpò chuántǒng jièxiàn.

We need to break traditional boundaries.

学术界对这个理论有争议。

Xuéshù jiè duì zhège lǐlùn yǒu zhēngyì.

The academic community has controversies about this theory.

宇宙的边界至今尚未确定。

Yǔzhòu de biānjiè zhìjīn shàng wèi quèdìng.

The boundary of the universe has not been determined yet.

Related Characters

Component: 介

Component: 田

界