箕 (jī) — winnow basket (bound form, used in compounds)
Definition
箕 (jī) is a literary bound form meaning 'winnowing basket,' used only in set phrases like 箕踞 (sit with legs splayed) and 箕山之志 (aspiration to retire), not as a standalone everyday word.
bound form
winnow basket (bound form, used in compounds)
Easily confused
- 鸡jīsound-alikechicken
- 机jīsound-alike(bound form) machine; mechanical
- 奇jīsound-alike(classifier) odd number (used after a number to count odd numbers)
- 基jīsound-alike(bound form) base; foundation; fundamental
- 击jīsound-alike(bound form) to strike, to hit, to attack
- 激jīsound-aliketo surge, to dash (of water, emotions)
Examples
- 簸箕。Tā yòng bò jī bǎ liáng shi yáng gān jìng le.He used a winnowing basket to clean the grain.
- 箕踞，。Gǔ rén jī jù ér zuò, biǎo shì bù jū lǐ jié.Ancient people sat with legs spread out like a winnowing basket, showing informality.
- 箕，。Tā yǒu jī shān zhī zhì, bú yuàn zài cháo wéi guān.He had the ambition to retire to Mount Ji, unwilling to be an official at court.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
箕 is built from 竹 (bamboo) plus 其, which gives the sound; the form is a specialized version of 其.
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