HanziGuru.竞 · jìng
竞
jìng[jing4]Tone 4

to compete

HSK 5
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競
Guru Deep Dive

English · to compete

Cached lesson
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Topology:Left-right
Strokes:10
Writing Balance Rule: The character is split symmetrically into two identical halves (立 over 兄) stacked side by side (two sets of them mirroring each other). Ensure each half is slender so the whole character remains balanced and does not look overly wide.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form 競 uses two '立' components standing above two '儿' components facing each other over a mouth '口'. The simplified form 竞 reduces the complexity while preserving the core visual structure of two people standing and contending.
1. Meaning

to compete, to contend, to struggle

to vie forto striveemulation
VerbNeutral#action#sports#business#conflict
Sample Usage
  • 我们要努力竞争。
    wǒ men yào nǔ lì jìng zhēng.
    We must work hard to compete.
  • 这场比赛非常激烈。
    zhè chǎng bǐ sài fēi cháng jī liè.
    This competition is extremely fierce.
2. Sound
/[t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹]/Tone: 51
竞
jìngjing4
++
`(51)
=jìng
Initial Consonant
j
Type: Unaspirated Alveolo-Palatal
Sounds like: j sound as in 'jeans' or 'juice' without the buzzing friction
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No air puff. Lips spread wide like smiling.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Blade of the tongue touches the hard palate, teeth close together, air released smoothly.
Final Rhyme
ing
Vowel Group: -i vowel group
Sounds like: -ing rhymes with 'sing' or 'ring'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eeng'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T4 (51)
4th Tone (High-Falling)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts high and drops sharply to the bottom, like a definitive command 'No!' or a sharp drop in voice.
👂
Listening trap: Confusing the high front vowel with an '-en' or '-an' ending, or confusing Tone 4 with Tone 1 or Tone 3.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, decisive downward chop with your hand, mirroring a referee signaling the end of a race or a sharp drop in pitch.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The character is split symmetrically into two identical halves (立 over 兄) stacked side by side (two sets of them mirroring each other). Ensure each half is slender so the whole character remains balanced and does not look overly wide.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 競 uses two '立' components standing above two '儿' components facing each other over a mouth '口'. The simplified form 竞 reduces the complexity while preserving the core visual structure of two people standing and contending.

4. Components

Radical 立 · Stand Radical (stand)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 立 (Two people standing upright facing each other, getting ready to compete.)

Picture two people standing (立) side by side, squaring off like opponents on a racing track, ready to compete.

  • 立 stand / person standing
  • 兄 elder brother / phonetic & semantic element of rivalry
5. History
Liushu category: Compound ideogram (会意)

Origin: Originally depicted two people standing face to face in a contest or quarrel. Over time, the glyph evolved into symmetrical components representing a contest of strength or skill.

Semantic Evolution: From a physical contest or quarreling stance between two people to modern generalized meanings of competition, contending, and striving in business, sports, and academics.

  • In ancient times, it could also imply arguing or litigation in court.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
cạnh
Mandarin Tone 4 (sharp falling) corresponds to Vietnamese nặng tone or sắc tone depending on historical development.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ケイ (kei) / Kun: きそ.う (kiso.u)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
경
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Two people stand (立) tall like elder brothers (兄) side by side on the starting line, ready to COMPETE (jìng) fiercely for first place!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
竟
jìngunexpectedly, finallyRemove the bottom or alter strokes; means 'to finish' or 'unexpectedly'.
镜
jìngmirrorAdd the metal radical (钅) on the left because a mirror is made of shiny metal.
境
jìngborder, environmentAdd the earth radical (土) on the left for physical land borders.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
净(jìng)
净 has the water radical (氵) on the left, meaning 'clean', whereas 竞 is about competing.
竟(jìng)
竟 means 'unexpectedly/end' and is slightly narrower in structure without the full double-standing imagery.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
运动员们在赛场上激烈地[___]。
Clue: jìng zhēng
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone with Tone 3 (jǐng) or mistaking it for similar-sounding syllables like jìn (进). Remember the sharp falling Tone 4 for jìng.

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 竞, what action does it represent and what is its Pinyin?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to compete' (jìng) and what is its core component meaning?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

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