即 meaning and stroke order
Namely; that is; i.e.
How to write 即, stroke by stroke
7 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 即
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- namely
- that is
- i.e.
- prompt
- at once
- at present
How 即 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hungry person卩 kneeling over food 皀; compare 既.
Radical: 卩 (seal), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 即
The left side shows a bowl of food 皀 and the right side 卩 is a person kneeling right next to it. The person is about to eat at once, so 即 (jí) means "immediately" or "right then."
即 is mostly a written or formal word. It appears in compounds like 立即 (lìjí, immediately) and 即使 (jíshǐ, even if), and alone it can mean "that is" or "namely." Example: 我们即将出发。(Wǒmen jíjiāng chūfā.) We are about to set off.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 即 (jí) with 既 (jì). They look alike, and in 即 the person faces the food to eat, while in 既 the person has turned away, already finished. 即 has the second tone, and 既 has the fourth tone, as in 既然 (jìrán, since).
Common words with 即
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 即将 | jíjiāng | about to; on the point of; soon | HSK 4 |
| 立即 | lìjí | immediately | HSK 4 |
| 即使 | jíshǐ | even if; even though | HSK 5 |
| 即便 | jíbiàn | even if; even though | HSK 7-9 |
| 即可 | jíkě | equivalent to 就可以; can then (do sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 随即 | suíjí | immediately; presently | HSK 7-9 |
| 当即 | dāngjí | at once; on the spot | HSK 7-9 |
| 即刻 | jíkè | immediately; instant | |
| 即兴 | jíxìng | improvisation (in the arts); impromptu | |
| 即时 | jíshí | immediate | |
| 即将来临 | jíjiāngláilín | imminent | |
| 转瞬即逝 | zhuǎnshùnjíshì | (idiom) fleeting; transitory | |
| 一触即发 | yīchùjífā | could happen at any moment; on the verge |
即 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 即
Learning 即 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 即
How many strokes are in 即?
即 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 即 mean?
即 (jí) means namely; that is; i.e.. A common word with it is 即将 (jíjiāng), meaning "about to; on the point of; soon".
How do you pronounce 即?
即 is pronounced jí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 即?
The radical of 即 is 卩, which carries the idea of "seal". Dictionaries list 即 under this radical.
Is 即 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 即 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 即使 and 虽然?
即使 (jíshǐ) means "even if" and introduces a hypothetical situation. 虽然 (suīrán) means "although" and describes something that is actually true. Both are often followed by 也 or 但是 in the second clause.
How is 即 used to mean "that is" or "namely"?
In formal writing, 即 can link a term to its explanation, much like "i.e." in English. For example, 首都即北京 (shǒudū jí Běijīng) means "the capital, that is, Beijing." In speech, people usually say 就是 (jiù shì) instead.