髻

jì

吉 + 髟

Definitions

jì hair rolled up in a bun, topknot

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 髟 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound.

Semantic: 髟 Phonetic: 吉

About

髻 is a phono-semantic compound describing hairstyles where hair is coiled or tied. The semantic radical 髟 (biāo) represents long hair, indicating the character's connection to hair and grooming. The phonetic component 吉 (jí) means auspicious, but provides the pronunciation without adding meaning. The character refers to a bun, topknot, or coil of hair on the head, a style common for both men and women in Chinese history.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她的发髻很高。

Tā de fàjì hěn gāo.

Her hair bun is very high.

妈妈梳了一个髻。

Māma shūle yīgè jì.

Mom combed a bun.

姐姐的髻子很漂亮。

Jiějie de jìzi hěn piàoliang.

Elder sister's bun is very beautiful.

她今天把头发盘成髻。

Tā jīntiān bǎ tóufa pán chéng jì.

She tied her hair into a bun today.

那个髻用簪子固定住了。

Nàgè jì yòng zānzi gùdìng zhùle.

That bun is secured with a hairpin.

她梳着传统的发髻参加婚礼。

Tā shūzhe chuántǒng de fàjì cānjiā hūnlǐ.

She wore a traditional bun to attend the wedding.

髻的样式随着时代变化。

Jì de yàngshì suízhe shídài biànhuà.

The style of buns changes with the times.

她熟练地将长发挽成一个松散的髻。

Tā shúliàn de jiāng chángfà wǎn chéng yīgè sōngsǎn de jì.

She skillfully tied her long hair into a loose bun.

Related Characters

Component: 吉

Component: 髟

髻