机智 (jī zhì) — quick-witted, resourceful

Definition

Highlights fast, sharp thinking in the moment — answering, deciding, reacting under pressure. 机灵 is more general 'smart and alert'; 精明 emphasizes shrewd self-interest.

adjective
quick-wittedresourceful

Examples

  • 机智
    Miàn shì shí tā huí dá dé hěn jī zhì, gěi kǎo guān liú xià le hǎo yìn xiàng.
    He answered very quick-wittedly during the interview and left a good impression on the examiners.
  • 机智
    jī zhì De jué cè bāng zhù gōng sī dù guò le wēi jī.
    The resourceful decision helped the company get through the crisis.
  • 机智
    Tā jī zhì dì bì miǎn le chōng tū, dà jiā dōu chēng zàn tā.
    She resourcefully avoided the conflict, and everyone praised her.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

quick-witted
zhìwisdom

'机' (quick-witted) and '智' (wisdom) together mean quick-witted resourcefulness.

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
tree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The early form 智 used 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to pass knowledge to a child.

Open 智 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.