笈

jí
及 + 竹

Definitions

jí trunks (for books)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 及 represents the sound.

Semantic: ⺮ Phonetic: 及

About

笈 is a phonosemantic compound consisting of the bamboo radical 竹 at the top, indicating the material from which the object was made, and the phonetic 及 at the bottom, which gives the sound. The original meaning is a portable bamboo container, either a box or a satchel with a woven frame, that traveling scholars used to carry books, scrolls, and personal effects on their journeys. As bookbinding and travel customs changed, the object fell out of use, and the character transitioned from an everyday term to a literary one, now found almost exclusively in classical contexts. It typically appears in idioms about leaving home to pursue studies or in references to collections of esoteric and secret texts.

Example Sentences Hide

他负笈求学多年。

Tā fù jí qiú xué duō nián.

He studied away from home for many years.

书笈里装满了课本。

Shū jí lǐ zhuāng mǎn le kè běn.

The book satchel is filled with textbooks.

负笈留学需要勇气。

Fù jí liú xué xū yào yǒng qì.

Studying abroad requires courage.

他的书笈旧但耐用。

Tā de shū jí jiù dàn nài yòng.

His book satchel is old but durable.

负笈他乡的日子很苦。

Fù jí tā xiāng de rì zi hěn kǔ.

The days of studying in a foreign land were hard.

这个书笈是用竹子编的。

Zhè gè shū jí shì yòng zhú zi biān de.

This book satchel is woven from bamboo.

负笈求学的经历让他成长。

Fù jí qiú xué de jīng lì ràng tā chéng zhǎng.

The experience of studying away from home made him mature.

古代书生常负笈游学四方。

Gǔ dài shū shēng cháng fù jí yóu xué sì fāng.

Ancient scholars often traveled around to study with their book satchels.

Related Characters

Component: 及

及 极 级 吸 圾 汲 岌 芨 趿 級 靸 钑 伋 扱

Component: 竹

第 等 管 笑 算 答 策 简 笔 篇 筑 符 签 箱

Example Words

秘笈 负笈