Definition
结 (jié) as a verb means 'to tie a knot' or 'to bind' — it emphasizes forming a knot or fastening with a knot. For general tying/fastening (like shoelaces), 系 (xì) is more common; for bundling items together, use 扎 (zhā); for tying up a person or object tightly, use 绑 (bǎng). 结 also has the distinct meaning 'to settle/conclude' (结账, 结束), which the others lack.
noun
knot
verb
to tieto bindto settleto conclude (e.g., 结账, 结束)
Easily confused
- 结jiēlook-alike(of plants) to produce (fruit or seeds)
- 接jiēsound-aliketo answer (the phone), to pick up (someone), to receive (an object or person)
- 街jiēsound-alikestreet
- 借jièsound-aliketo borrow
- 节jiésound-alike(classifier) for segments of connected things: lessons, train cars, sections
- 解jiěsound-aliketo untie; to loosen; to separate
- 戒jièsound-aliketo quit, to give up (a habit or addiction)
- 界jièsound-alike(suffix) realm, world, sphere
- 劫jiésound-aliketo rob; to plunder; to seize by force
- 皆jiēsound-alike(formal) all, each and every
Examples
- 结。Tā zài shéngzi shàng dǎ le yí gè jié.He tied a knot in the rope.
- 结。Qǐng bǎ zhè liǎng gēn shéngzi jié zài yìqǐ.Please tie these two ropes together.
- 。Huìyì jié shù le.The meeting ended.
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