繼 meaning and stroke order
To continue, to carry on; to succeed, to inherit
How to write 繼, stroke by stroke
20 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 繼
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to continue
- to follow after
- to go on with
- to succeed
- to inherit
- then
How 繼 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning and 㡭 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 繼
繼 (jì) pairs the silk radical 糹 (thread) with 㡭, which gives the sound. Picture tying a new thread onto the end of a broken one so the line can continue.
繼 is the traditional form of 继 and means to continue something or to succeed someone. It shows up in common words like 继续 (jìxù, to continue) and 继承 (jìchéng, to inherit). Example: 我們繼續學習。(Wǒmen jìxù xuéxí.) We keep studying.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 繼 with 斷 (duàn, to break). Both have the 㡭-like part, but 斷 has 斤 (axe) on the right and means to cut off. Also remember the tone is falling fourth tone jì, not jǐ.
Common words with 繼
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 繼續 | jìxù | to continue; to proceed with; to go on with | HSK 3 |
| 繼承 | jìchéng | to inherit; to succeed to (the throne etc) | HSK 5 |
| 繼父 | jìfù | stepfather | HSK 7-9 |
| 繼母 | jìmǔ | stepmother | HSK 7-9 |
| 夜以繼日 | yèyǐjìrì | night and day (idiom); continuous strenuous effort | HSK 7-9 |
| 相繼 | xiāngjì | in succession; following closely | HSK 7-9 |
| 繼而 | jì'ér | then; afterwards | HSK 7-9 |
| 前赴後繼 | qiánfù-hòujì | to advance dauntlessly in wave upon wave (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 繼承人 | jìchéngrén | heir; successor | |
| 繼承權 | jìchéngquán | right of inheritance | |
| 繼任者 | jìrènzhě | successor | |
| 繼承者 | jìchéngzhě | successor | |
| 繼女 | jìnǚ | stepdaughter | |
| 繼任 | jìrèn | to succeed sb in a job; successor |
Questions about 繼
How many strokes are in 繼?
繼 is written with 20 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 繼 mean?
繼 (jì) means to continue, to carry on; to succeed, to inherit. A common word with it is 继续 (jìxù), meaning "to continue; to proceed with; to go on with".
How do you pronounce 繼?
繼 is pronounced jì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 繼?
The radical of 繼 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 繼 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 繼?
繼 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 继, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 繼 appear in words for stepparents?
In 继父 (jìfù, stepfather) and 继母 (jìmǔ, stepmother), 繼 carries the sense of someone who follows after or takes over a role. A stepparent is the one who comes next in that family position.
How is 继而 (jì'ér) different from 然后 (ránhòu)?
Both mean then or afterwards. 继而 is more formal and written, often linking one action that follows closely on another. 然后 is the everyday spoken choice.