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笄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笄jīhairpin; fifteen-year-old girlg, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
笄jī15 years oldunknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
笄jīhairpin for bununknown, 10 strokes, radical ⺮
jī(ji1) T1
  1. 1hairpin; fifteen-year-old girl
  2. 215 years old
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笄jī(ji1)

The character 笄 (jī) primarily refers to a hairpin, traditionally used by women to secure their hair in an updo. It can also signify a girl who is fifteen years old, marking a specific age of maturity in Chinese culture. This age is often associated with coming-of-age ceremonies and responsibilities.

Strokes10Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In ancient China, reaching the age of fifteen was significant for girls, as they often participated in ceremonies that marked their transition into womanhood. The hairpin itself became a symbol of this transition and is featured in various cultural artworks.

Memory Tip

Imagine a girl at the age of fifteen, wearing a beautiful hairpin (笄) as she prepares for her first formal celebration. The character's top component resembles a hairpin, while the bottom part can remind you of a young girl standing proudly.

Meanings of 笄

jī(ji1)
1hairpin; fifteen-year-old girl
215 years old
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 笄

笄Simplified
10Strokes
⺮Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笄

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Podcast: 笄

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AI Study Notes for 笄

Usage Notes

Be mindful not to confuse 笄 with similar characters. It's often used in literary contexts or traditional settings, so while it may sound formal, you might encounter it in poetry or historical narratives. Remember to pronounce it with the first tone (jī) to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 笄 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its meaning and usage can enrich your understanding of age-related terms in Mandarin. Focus on learning related characters that denote ages and social roles, as they often appear in cultural contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 笄 with other characters related to hair or age, such as 发 (fà) for hair. Remember that 笄 specifically denotes a hairpin and the age of fifteen, not just hair in general.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笄

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Etymology of 笄

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)开
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

笄 = ⺮ + 开. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 笄

IDS Structure⿱⺮开
笄Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
开kai1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 笄?

How to say hairpin; fifteen-year-old girl in Chinese

“hairpin; fifteen-year-old girl” in Chinese is笄jī

The character 笄 (jī) primarily refers to a hairpin, traditionally used by women to secure their hair in an updo. It can also signify a girl who is fifteen years old, marking a specific age of maturity in Chinese culture. This age is often associated with coming-of-age ceremonies and responsibilities.

When to use 笄

Be mindful not to confuse 笄 with similar characters. It's often used in literary contexts or traditional settings, so while it may sound formal, you might encounter it in poetry or historical narratives. Remember to pronounce it with the first tone (jī) to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 笄 with other characters related to hair or age, such as 发 (fà) for hair. Remember that 笄 specifically denotes a hairpin and the age of fifteen, not just hair in general.

Write 笄

笄

Practice writing 笄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 笄

Words Containing This Character1
笄jī15 years old

Frequently Asked Questions about 笄

Fifteen is traditionally seen as a coming-of-age milestone for girls, often marked with specific ceremonies.

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