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伎 (jì) — (bound form, in 伎俩) trick; scheme; (bound form, historical) female singer; entertainer (in 歌伎)

Definition

A bound morpheme with no independent use: 伎俩 means 'tricks/schemes' (negative), and 歌伎 refers to a historical female entertainer. It only appears as part of these set words.

bound form
(bound form, in 伎俩) trickscheme(bound form, historical) female singerentertainer (in 歌伎)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā de jì liǎng bèi dà jiā shí pò le.
    His tricks were seen through by everyone.
  • 伎。
    Gǔ dài de gē jì cháng wèi guì zú biǎo yǎn.
    Ancient female entertainers often performed for the nobility.
  • 。
    Zhè wèi wǔ zhě de jì liǎng què shí gāo míng.
    This dancer's tricks are indeed ingenious.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī伎jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

伎 combines 人, meaning “person,” with 支, which gives the sound.

Appears in
Professions & Jobs

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