劲 (jìng) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

劲

jìng[jing4]Tone 4

strong

HSK 4

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勁

Multiple Readings (多音字):

Guru Deep Dive

English · strong

Cached lesson

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:7

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (力) should be compact, while the right component (巠) takes up more space, ensuring the overall character balances gracefully without leaning.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 勁 uses 巠 on the right, which was streamlined in the simplified form 劲, maintaining the same structure.

1. Meaning

strong, powerful, sturdy, stalwart

energyspiritstrength

AdjectiveNeutral#physical force#character traits#energy

Sample Usage

这个人很有劲。
Zhè gè rén hěn yǒu jìng.
This person has a lot of energy/strength.
劲 Sōng 有力。
Jìng sōng yǒulì.
Sturdy and powerful like a pine tree.

2. Sound

/[tɕiŋ˥˩]/Tone: 51

劲

jìngjing4

`(51)

=jìng

Initial Consonant

Type: Unaspirated Alveolo-Palatal

Sounds like: j sound as in 'jeep' or 'jam'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: No air puff. Lips spread wide like smiling.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Blade of the tongue touches the hard palate just behind the alveolar ridge, releasing into an alveolo-palatal affricate.

Final Rhyme

ing

Vowel Group: -i vowel group

Sounds like: -ing rhymes with 'sing'

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eeng'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom, like a sudden command of 'No!' in English.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the fourth tone jìng with the second tone jīng or third tone jǐng.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A decisive, sharp downward chop of the hand from high to low, mirroring the angry or authoritative drop of Tone 4.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 7 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (力) should be compact, while the right component (巠) takes up more space, ensuring the overall character balances gracefully without leaning.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 勁 uses 巠 on the right, which was streamlined in the simplified form 劲, maintaining the same structure.

4. Components

Radical 力 · Power Radical (Strength or physical power)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 力 (Indicates physical power or strength)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 巠 (original sound: jing)

Combining the phonetic sound clue 巠 (jing) with the semantic power radical 力 (strength) yields the meaning of being stalwart and powerful.

巠 Provides the sound clue jing
力 Provides the meaning of strength

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed by combining 巠 (underground streams or path) with 力 (strength), representing steady, enduring inner power.

Semantic Evolution: Shifted from underground water channels to the abstract concept of physical strength, vigor, and sturdy spirit.

The component 巠 often gives the sound 'jing' to characters like 经 and 轻.

6. Sinosphere

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine a strong man using all his strength (力) along underground waterways (巠) to pump water, showing how stalwart and powerful (劲) he is.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

经

jīngclassic / pass throughReplaces the power radical with the silk thread radical (纟), representing threads of a loom or classic texts.

轻

qīnglight / weightlessUses the vehicle/car radical (车) with the same phonetic sound.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

径(jìng)

Uses the step radical (彳) instead of the power radical (力), meaning path or trail.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

他这个人做事很有[___]。

Clue: jìng

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the fourth tone pronunciation jìng with the neutral tone or other tones when used as a noun suffix (like 幹劲 gànjìn).

Memory Prompts

Recognition: What does 劲 mean when you see it in a compound like 强劲?

Production: How do you write the character for 'strong/powerful' (jìng) with 7 strokes?

劲jìngstrong

Speed:

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