About
The character "系" originated as a pictograph depicting a hand gathering multiple strands of silk thread, conveying a core idea of connection and systematic linkage. Its structure, even in its earliest forms, combined elements representing "hand" and "silk", visually reinforcing the concept of binding things together into a coherent whole. Over time, its meaning extended from this concrete imagery to encompass more abstract notions of lineage, affiliation, and categorical systems, such as in familial or academic departments. This character also functioned historically as a verb meaning "to tie" or "to attach". A traditional variant, "係", often carried this verbal sense and was used to denote relational connections, particularly in formal or literary contexts, before its graphical elements were streamlined. Today, the character retains its fundamental semantic field of interconnected series and systematic grouping, embodying both the idea of a tangible connection and an abstract, classificatory structure.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请系好安全带。
她是中文系的学生。
这关系到我们的安全。
系统需要更新。
他系了一条红领带。
这两个事件有密切联系。
宇宙的星系数量难以估量。
这项研究涉及多个学科系。