籍

jí

竹 + 耤

Definitions

jí (noun) registry; record; roll

jí (noun) household registration

Etymology phono-semantic

bamboo

Semantic: ⺮ Phonetic: 耤

About

籍 is a phono-semantic compound: the bamboo radical 竹 tops the character, reflecting the use of bamboo slips bound into books and records in ancient times. The phonetic element 耤, originally a depiction of plowing, hints at the systematic registration of farmland or taxes. The meaning evolved from physical bamboo documents to refer to a registry, census, or official record of people and property, and later expanded to include membership, nationality, and one's native place or origin.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢阅读书籍。

Wǒ xǐhuān yuèdú shūjí.

I like reading books.

图书馆有很多书籍。

Túshūguǎn yǒu hěnduō shūjí.

The library has many books.

我的籍贯是北京。

Wǒ de jíguàn shì Běijīng.

My native place is Beijing.

他办理了户籍手续。

Tā bànlǐle hùjí shǒuxù.

He went through the household registration procedures.

她拥有双重国籍。

Tā yōngyǒu shuāngchóng guójí.

She has dual nationality.

学校管理学生的学籍信息。

Xuéxiào guǎnlǐ xuéshēng de xuéjí xìnxī.

The school manages students' academic records.

博物馆收藏了许多珍贵古籍。

Bówùguǎn shōucángle xǔduō zhēnguì gǔjí.

The museum has collected many precious ancient books.

根据户籍资料，他的籍贯和国籍都记录在案。

Gēnjù hùjí zīliào, tā de jíguàn hé guójí dōu jìlù zài àn.

According to the household registration documents, his native place and nationality are recorded.

Related Characters

Component: 竹

Component: 耤

籍