紧

緊

jǐn

〢 + 又 + 糸

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

jǐn (adjective) tight; strict

jǐn (adjective) urgent; tense

jǐn (adjective) close at hand; near

jǐn (verb) to tighten

Etymology

Simplified form of 緊. Phonosemantic compound. 臤 represents the sound, while 糸 represents the meaning.

Semantic: 糸

About

紧 is the simplified form of 緊, a phono-semantic compound. Its lower element, 纟 (traditional 糹), means silk or thread and indicates the semantic category. The upper portion is the phonetic 臤 (qiān), which also suggests firmness; in the simplified character it is written like the top of 坚. Originally, the character described a thread or string pulled taut without any slack. This physical tightness later extended to abstract meanings such as urgency, intense pressure, strictly enforced rules, and scarcity of time or resources, reflecting a shift from mechanical tension to psychological and circumstantial strain.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

时间很紧张。

Shíjiān hěn jǐnzhāng.

Time is very tight.

请抓紧时间。

Qǐng zhuājǐn shíjiān.

Please hurry up.

这是紧急情况。

Zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng.

This is an emergency.

我们紧密合作。

Wǒmen jǐnmì hézuò.

We cooperate closely.

这件衣服太紧了。

Zhè jiàn yīfú tài jǐn le.

This piece of clothing is too tight.

这件事非常要紧。

Zhè jiàn shì fēicháng yàojǐn.

This matter is very important.

经济紧缩政策有效吗？

Jīngjì jǐnsuō zhèngcè yǒuxiào ma?

Is the economic austerity policy effective?

紧绷的弦容易断。

Jǐnbēng de xián róngyì duàn.

A tightly stretched string is easy to break.

Related Characters

Component: 〢

Component: 又

Component: 糸

紧