unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #71041, Very Hard
拮
jié
laboring hard
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #71041, Very Hard
拮
jié
pressed
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 扌, rank #71041, Very Hard
jié(jie2) T2
1busy, occupied; to pursue
2antagonistic
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
拮jié(jie2)
The character 拮 (jié) primarily conveys a sense of being busy or occupied, often associated with hard labor or efforts that are pursued. It can also imply an antagonistic or pressed situation, where one feels burdened or constrained, making it relevant in contexts discussing work or conflict.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#71041DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, hard work and perseverance are highly valued, and 拮 reflects this ethos of laboring diligently. It is often used in literature to describe characters who are striving against adversity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the character's radical '扌' representing a hand) who is busy pressing down on a large pile of work (the other components). Picture the stress of squeezing through a heavy load, which helps reinforce the meaning of being busy or pressed.
Meanings of 拮
jié(jie2)
1busy, occupied; to pursue
2antagonistic
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 拮 means.
About 拮
拮Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拮
Podcast: 拮
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 拮
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 拮 with similar-sounding characters like 结 (jié), which means 'to tie' or 'knot.' This character is more formal and can be used in literary contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
Though 拮 is not included in the HSK levels, it is beneficial to connect it with other HSK vocabulary related to work and effort. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts and how it relates to themes of labor and conflict.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is using 拮 in the wrong context, such as saying 拮 for 'happy' instead of its intended meaning of being busy or pressed. Make sure to use it in contexts that emphasize effort or a burdensome situation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拮
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 拮 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 拮 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Etymology of 拮
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound.
拮 = 扌 + 吉. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 拮
IDS Structure⿰扌吉
拮Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
吉Ji2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 拮?
How to say busy, occupied; to pursue in Chinese
“busy, occupied; to pursue” in Chinese is拮jié
The character 拮 (jié) primarily conveys a sense of being busy or occupied, often associated with hard labor or efforts that are pursued. It can also imply an antagonistic or pressed situation, where one feels burdened or constrained, making it relevant in contexts discussing work or conflict.
When to use 拮
Learners often confuse 拮 with similar-sounding characters like 结 (jié), which means 'to tie' or 'knot.' This character is more formal and can be used in literary contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
What learners get wrong
A frequent error is using 拮 in the wrong context, such as saying 拮 for 'happy' instead of its intended meaning of being busy or pressed. Make sure to use it in contexts that emphasize effort or a burdensome situation.
Write 拮
拮
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 拮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 拮
拮 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
八口之家日子过得很____据。
The family of eight was living in straitened circumstances .
Example Sentences for 拮 (3)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
八口之家日子过得很拮据。
bā kǒu zhī jiā rì zǐ guò dé hěn jié jù。
The family of eight was living in straitened circumstances .
