Definitions

jìng (noun) path; track
jìng (noun) diameter
jìng (adverb) directly; straight

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and 𢀖 represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 径, historically rendered as 徑, combines the semantic radical 彳, associated with walking or pathways, with the phonetic component 巠 to form a character whose primary meaning was a narrow footpath or trail. This construction inherently links the idea of movement to a specific type of route, and over time the term's application broadened beyond physical geography to encompass notions of directness and the means to an end, such as a straightforward method or, in mathematics, the diameter of a circle. The modern simplified form 径 maintains the radical 彳 but replaces the original phonetic element with 又, a structural alteration that streamlines the character while its conceptual focus on a course or way remains consistent.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

沿着小走。

Yán zhe xiǎojìng zǒu。

Walk along the small path.

这是一种有效的学习途

Zhè shì yī zhǒng yǒuxiào de xuéxí tújìng。

This is an effective learning pathway.

这条小通向一个美丽的花园。

Zhè tiáo xiǎojìng tōng xiàng yīgè měilì de huāyuán。

This small path leads to a beautiful garden.

直走进了老板的办公室。

Tā jìngzhí zǒu jìnle lǎobǎn de bàngōngshì。

He walked straight into the boss's office.

工程师需要计算这个圆形的直

Gōngchéngshī xūyào jìsuàn zhège yuánxíng de zhíjìng。

The engineer needs to calculate the diameter of this circle.

他们选择了一条不同寻常的创业途

Tāmen xuǎnzéle yītiáo bù tóng xúncháng de chuàngyè tújìng。

They chose an unusual entrepreneurial path.

研究人员通过新的途解决了那个难题。

Yánjiū rényuán tōngguò xīn de tújìng jiějuéle nàgè nántí。

The researchers solved that difficult problem through a new approach.

探险队在密林中开辟了一条狭窄的兽

Tànxiǎn duì zài mìlín zhōng kāipìle yītiáo xiázhǎi de shòujìng。

The expedition team blazed a narrow animal trail through the dense forest.