係 meaning and stroke order
System; line, link, connection
How to write 係, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 係
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to connect
- to relate to
- to tie up
- to bind
- to be (literary)
How 係 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Someone 亻 who connects 系 people; 系 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 係
A person 亻 standing next to 系 (xì), a thread or line, is someone who ties people together. Think of a person holding the thread that links one person to another, which is why 係 means to connect or relate, and 系 also gives the sound xì.
In modern Simplified Chinese, 係 has been merged into 系, so words like 关系 (guānxi) are written with 系. The form 係 still appears in Traditional Chinese, as in 關係, and in literary writing where it can mean "to be." Example: 沒關係。(Méi guānxi.) It doesn't matter.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 係 with 系 and 繫, which look related. In Simplified Chinese all three are written 系, but in Traditional texts 係 is used for "relationship" (關係) and 繫 for physically tying or contacting (聯繫). Also note that in 关系 the second syllable is usually said in the neutral tone, guānxi, not with a full fourth tone.
Common words with 係
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 係
How many strokes are in 係?
係 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 係 mean?
係 (xì) means system; line, link, connection. A common word with it is 没关系 (méi guānxi), meaning "it doesn't matter".
How do you pronounce 係?
係 is pronounced xì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 係?
The radical of 係 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 係 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 係?
係 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 系, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 係 mean "to be" in some texts?
In literary Chinese, 係 can work like 是 (shì), meaning "is" or "to be," for example in formal documents. Cantonese speakers also use 係 (hai6) as their everyday word for "to be."
Should I write 係 or 系 in 没关系?
Write 没关系 in Simplified Chinese, as used in mainland China. Write 沒關係 in Traditional Chinese, as used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.