Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

extremely; pole (geography; physics); utmost; top

Chinese: 顶点、极端或非常。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “ji” becomes a different word in each tone. 极 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 极了jí leextremely; exceedingly
  • 积极jī jíactive; energetic; vigorous; positive (outlook)
  • 积极性jī jí xìngzeal; initiative; enthusiasm; activity
  • 极其jí qíextremely
  • 消极xiāo jínegative; passive; inactive

Example Sentence

今天的风景美极了。Jīn tiān de fēng jǐng měi jí le.The scenery today is extremely beautiful.

今天Jīn tiāntodaydeof风景fēng jǐngsceneryměi(bound form) the Americas 极了jí leextremely

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

The wood radical 木 plus 及 (sound): originally the ridgepole at the top of a roof — ‘the highest point, pole, extreme; utmost; extremely, exceedingly; to reach the limit’ (极点, 北极, 极好). Simplified from 極.

A way to remember it

The topmost ridgepole — the extreme; extremely (极好).