Meaning
namely; right away; to approach; to draw near
Chinese: 就是、立刻或靠近。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “ji” becomes a different word in each tone. 即 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
- 即使jí shǐeven if; even though
- 立即lì jíimmediately
- 即将jí jiāngabout to; on the point of; soon
- 即便jí biàneven if; even though; right away; immediately
- 随即suí jíimmediately; presently; following which
Example Sentence
火车即将出发。Huǒ chē jí jiāng chū fā.The train is about to depart.
火车Huǒ chētrain即将jí jiāngabout to出发chū fāto set off。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A person kneeling (卩) up to a food vessel (皀), about to eat: to draw near. It means ‘to approach, reach; at once, immediately, promptly; namely, that is; even if’ (立即, 即使, 即是).
A way to remember it
Right up to the food — at once; namely. (vs 既 ‘already’, eaten and turned away.)
Easy to confuse with
- 既‘Already / since’: the person has finished and turned away from the food.