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己 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
己jǐselfr, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐoneselfr, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐsixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shí tiān gān]r, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐsixth in orderr, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐletter "F" or roman "VI" in list "A, B, C", or "I, II, III" etcr, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐhexar, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐself, oneself; personal, private; 6th heavenly stemr, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
己jǐsixth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]unknown, 3 strokes, radical 己, rank #5677, Hard
jǐ(ji3) T3
  1. 1self
  2. 2oneself
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
己jǐ(ji3)

The character 己 (jǐ) primarily means 'self' or 'oneself'. It is often used in contexts that emphasize personal identity or individuality. Additionally, it serves as the sixth of the ten Heavenly Stems (十天干), which are used in various traditional Chinese practices, including calendars and astrology.

Strokes3Radical己Frequency#5677DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese philosophy, the concept of self is significant, especially in teachings like Confucianism, which emphasizes personal responsibility and moral self-cultivation. The use of 己 reflects this cultural importance of introspection and self-awareness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person looking in a mirror, reflecting on their own identity - this symbolizes 'self'. The character 己 resembles a person standing upright, emphasizing the focus on oneself. Remember the pronunciation 'jǐ' by thinking of 'G' in 'G-self' for personal identity.

Meanings of 己

jǐ(ji3)
1self
2oneself
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 己

己Simplified
3Strokes
己Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#5677Frequency Rank

Podcast: 己

JasonAmy

Podcast: 己

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 己

Quick Contrast

自己 (zìjǐ) vs. 身体 (shēntǐ) — use 己 (jǐ) when emphasizing the concept of self or identity, while 自己 (zìjǐ) is more commonly used in everyday language to refer to oneself, and 身体 (shēntǐ) refers specifically to the body.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person looking in a mirror, reflecting on their own identity - this symbolizes 'self'. The character 己 resembles a person standing upright, emphasizing the focus on oneself. Remember the pronunciation 'jǐ' by thinking of 'G' in 'G-self' for personal identity.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 己 with other similar characters like 你 (nǐ, you) or 自 (zì, self). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with collocations, such as 己所 (one's own) and 不己 (not oneself). Pronunciation should be careful to avoid mixing with similar tones.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in HSK levels, understanding 己 can enhance comprehension of related vocabulary, especially in discussing personal matters. Focus on its relationship with other self-referential words like 自己 (zìjǐ, oneself) to build a broader context.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese philosophy, the concept of self is significant, especially in teachings like Confucianism, which emphasizes personal responsibility and moral self-cultivation. The use of 己 reflects this cultural importance of introspection and self-awareness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 己 when they mean 'you' (你, nǐ). For example, saying '己好' (jǐ hǎo) instead of '你好吗?' (nǐ hǎo ma?) to ask 'How are you?'. Always remember 己 refers to oneself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 己

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Etymology of 己

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Origin unclear.

Memory Hint

A loom woven with thread

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 己?

Decomposition of 己

IDS Structure⿱？乚
己Full Character
=
乚gou1
top
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 己?

Write 己

己

Practice writing 己 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 己

己 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 8 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.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

不用了，我自____来。

No need, I'll do it myself.

Common Confusions with 己

己vs我
wǒ

Both refer to the self, but 己 emphasizes 'oneself' in a more reflexive manner.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "self"?

or

Example Sentences for 己 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我觉得自己应该放声歌唱。

wǒ jué dé zì jǐ yīng gāi fàng shēng gē chàng。

I feel as if I should break into song.
2
我不得不承认自己的字写得不好看。

wǒ bù dé bù chéng rèn zì jǐ de zì xiě dé bù hǎo kàn。

I have to admit that I have bad handwriting.
3
我踉踉跄跄地，不得不抓住一把椅子稳住自己。

wǒ liáng liáng qiāng qiāng dì， ， bù dé bù zhuā zhù yī bǎ yǐ zǐ wěn zhù zì。

I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
4
母亲总是使我觉得自己不够优秀。

mǔ qīn zǒng shì shǐ wǒ jué dé zì jǐ bù gòu yōu xiù。

My mother always made me feel I wasn't coming up to scratch.
5
迟早我得自己承担后果。

chí zǎo wǒ dé zì jǐ chéng dān hòu guǒ。

Sooner or later, I'm going to have to face the music.
6
我把最后两指宽的波旁威士忌都倒进自己杯中。

wǒ bǎ zuì hòu liǎng zhǐ kuān de bō páng wēi shì jì dū dǎo jìn zì jǐ bēi zhōng。

I poured two final fingers of bourbon into my glass.
7
他宣称道：“我为自己的所作所为感到兴奋不已。”

tā xuān chēng dào：“ ：“ wǒ wéi zì jǐ de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi gǎn dào xīng fèn bù。”

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have done what I've done," he declared.
8
我们从可靠的消息来源获知索尼娅非常爱自己的家人。

wǒ mén cóng kě kào de xiāo xī lái yuán huò zhī suǒ ní yà fēi cháng ài zì jǐ de jiā rén。

Sonia, we are reliably informed, loves her family very much.
9
他们更加关心那些狗的安危，而非自己如何干净利落地脱身。

tā mén gēng jiā guān xīn nà xiē gǒu de ān wēi， ， ér fēi zì jǐ rú hé gān jìng lì luò dì tuō。

They were more concerned about the dogs' welfare than a clean getaway.
10
应该让母亲来重新安排自己紧张的日程。

yīng gāi ràng mǔ qīn lái zhòng xīn ān pái zì jǐ jǐn zhāng de rì chéng。

It is the mother who is expected to reorganize her busy schedule.

Cultural Notes for 己

💡Did you know?

In Chinese philosophy, understanding oneself (己) is considered essential for personal growth and harmony. This concept is deeply rooted in Confucian teachings, emphasizing self-reflection and moral development.

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese philosophy, the concept of self is significant, especially in teachings like Confucianism, which emphasizes personal responsibility and moral self-cultivation. The use of 己 reflects this cultural importance of introspection and self-awareness.

Word Family of 己

Compounds24
起qi3to rise
记ji4to record
改gai3to change
纪Ji3surname Ji
配pei4to join
异yi4different
忌ji4to be jealous of
妃fei1wife, spouse; imperial concubine
岂kai3old variant of 愷
杞Qi3willow, medlar tree; a small feudal state
巻
記ji4mark, sign; to note, to record
圮pi3destroyed, ruined; to injure; to subvert
屺qi3a grassy knoll; a barren knoll
巽xun4mild, modest, obedient; southeast; 5th of the 8 trigrams
玘
芑qi3white millet
妀
巹jin3nuptial wine cup
忋
氾fan4to flood, to inundate, to overflow
紀ji4discipline, age; period, era; record, annal
魢
鱾
Words Containing This Character20
自己zìjǐoneself
己jǐself
知己zhījǐto know oneself
自己人ourselves
身不由己shēnbùyóujǐnot of one's own volition
据为己有to take for one's own據為己有
利己personal profit
己方our side
知己知彼know yourself, know your enemy (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sūn​zǐ​Bīng​fǎ])
一己oneself
固执己见to persist in one's views固執己見
安分守己to know one's place
己见one's own viewpoint己見
异己dissident異己
事不关己a matter of no concern to oneself (idiom)事不關己
各抒己见gèshūjǐjiàneveryone gives their own view各抒己見
严于律己to be strict with oneself嚴於律己
损人利己sǔnrénlìjǐharming others for one's personal benefit (idiom); personal gain to the detriment of others損人利己
妲己Daji (c. 11th century BC), mythical fox spirit and concubine of the last Shang Dynasty Emperor Zhou Xin 紂辛|纣辛[Zhòu​Xīn]
克己复礼(any number of possible translations)克己復禮
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 起 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 己

己 (jǐ) holds cultural significance as it represents the concept of self-awareness and personal responsibility. In traditional Chinese philosophy, understanding oneself is essential for personal development.