挤 (jǐ) — (verb) to squeeze, to press; to crowd in; (verb) to find (time) in a busy schedule; (adjective) crowded, packed
Definition
As a verb, 挤 means to push/squeeze into a crowd and also to squeeze out time. As an adjective it means crowded — similar to 拥挤, but 挤 is the everyday short form used in casual speech.
verb
to squeezeto pressto crowd into find (time) in a busy schedule
adjective
crowdedpacked
Easily confused
Examples
- 挤，。Bié jǐ wǒ, hòu miàn hái yǒu kòng wèi.Don't push me, there's still space behind.
- 挤。Zǎo gāo fēng de dì tiě fēi cháng jǐ.The subway during morning rush hour is very crowded.
- 。Wǒ měi tiān jǐ chū bàn xiǎo shí xué yīng yǔ.I squeeze out half an hour every day to learn English.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 擠; 挤 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí擠jǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 擠 pairs 扌 (hand) with 齊, a sound part; the simplified 挤 is a later shorthand.
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