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秘籍 (mì jí) — rare book; secret book

Definition

Literally "secret records," 秘籍 refers to a treasured, often rare manual or book — in wuxia contexts it means a hidden manual of techniques passed from master to disciple. It carries a stronger sense of secrecy and value than a plain 图书.

noun
rare booksecret book
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 秘籍。
    Zhè běn mì jí jì zǎi le shī chuán de yī shù.
    This rare book records a lost medical technique.
  • 秘籍。
    Tā cóng shī fu nà lǐ dé dào le yì běn wǔ gōng mì jí.
    He obtained a secret martial arts manual from his master.
  • 秘籍。
    Tú shū guǎn shōu cáng le xǔ duō gǔ dài mì jí.
    The library collects many ancient rare books.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

秘mìsecret
籍jíbook

The idea of 秘 as secret or rare combines with 籍, a book or record, to mean a rare or secret book.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
必
必bì秘Bì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 必 part gives 秘 its sound. The 禾 side replaced an older ritual marker, linking it to secret rituals and arcane meaning.

Open 秘 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
耤
耤jí籍jí
Same sound today

籍 pairs 𥫗 (bamboo, written as 竹) with 耤 for the sound. The bamboo part is for bamboo census books.

Open 籍 →
Appears in
Reading & Writing

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