济

濟

jǐ, jì

氵 + 齐

Definitions

jì (verb) to help; to aid; to assist

jì (verb) to cross (a river)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 齐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 濟.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 齐

About

The character 济 features the water radical 氵 (shuǐ) on the left. Its simplified form uses 齐 (qí) as the phonetic component, replacing the traditional phonetic 齊. Originally, 济 meant to cross a river or ferry people over. This act of aiding travelers across water led to an extended meaning of providing relief, aiding those in need, or rescuing people from hardship. This core concept of assistance and resource management forms the basis for its use in modern terms related to economics, finance, and social governance.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

经济发展很重要。

Jīngjì fāzhǎn hěn zhòngyào.

Economic development is very important.

救济灾民刻不容缓。

Jiùjì zāimín kèbùrónghuǎn.

Providing relief to disaster victims brooks no delay.

济南是山东省的省会。

Jǐnán shì Shāndōng shěng de shǒuhuì.

Jinan is the capital of Shandong province.

这个项目需要更多资金才能办成。

Zhège xiàngmù xūyào gèng duō zījīn cái néng bàn chéng.

This project needs more funds to be accomplished.

医生以济世为怀。

Yīshēng yǐ jìshì wéi huái.

Doctors have the well-being of the world at heart.

公司致力于济困扶贫事业。

Gōngsī zhìlì yú jì kùn fúpín shìyè.

The company is committed to the cause of aiding the poor and lifting people out of poverty.

他始终怀有兼济天下的抱负。

Tā shǐzhōng huái yǒu jiān jì tiānxià de bàofù.

He has always harbored the aspiration to benefit the entire world.

这些措施能否有效地济事，还需实践检验。

Zhèxiē cuòshī néng fǒu yǒuxiào de jì shì, hái xū shíjiàn jiǎnyàn.

Whether these measures can effectively handle the matter still needs to be tested in practice.

Related Characters

Component: 氵

Component: 齐

济