节 meaning and stroke order
Joint; node; (bound form) section; segment; solar term (one of the 24 divisions of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar)
How to write 节, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 节
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- joint; node
- (bound form) section; segment
- solar term (one of the 24 divisions of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar)
- seasonal festival
- (bound form) to economize; to save
- (bound form) moral integrity; chastity
- see 節骨眼|节骨眼[jie1 gu5 yan3]
How 节 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Simplified form of 節; sections of bamboo ⺮.
Radical: 艹 (grass), shared by 421 characters on this site.
How to remember 节
The traditional form 節 has the bamboo top ⺮, because bamboo grows in sections with a joint between each one. Picture a bamboo stalk with its knots: each joint marks a segment, just as festivals like 春节 (Chūnjié) mark segments of the year.
节 is very common in compounds about holidays, programs, and saving resources, and it also works as a measure word for classes and train cars. Example: 今天我有三节课。(Jīntiān wǒ yǒu sān jié kè.) I have three classes today.
Common mistake: Learners often write the bottom part like 卩 with an extra stroke or confuse 节 with 卫 or 艺, which also have simple bottoms. Also note the simplified top is 艹, not the bamboo radical ⺮ found in the traditional 節.
Common words with 节
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 节目 | jiémù | (TV or radio) program; show; item; act; segment; number (on the program of a concert, vari | HSK 2 |
| 节日 | jiérì | holiday; festival | HSK 2 |
| 音节 | yīnjié | syllable | HSK 2 |
| 春节 | Chūnjié | Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) | HSK 2 |
| 节约 | jiéyuē | to economize; to conserve (resources) | HSK 3 |
| 细节 | xìjié | details; particulars | HSK 4 |
| 季节 | jìjié | time; season | HSK 4 |
| 节省 | jiéshěng | saving; to save | HSK 4 |
| 情节 | qíngjié | circumstances; plot; storyline | HSK 5 |
| 环节 | huánjié | (zoology) segment (of the body of a worm, centipede etc); (fig.) a part of an integrated w | HSK 5 |
| 调节 | tiáojié | to adjust; to regulate | HSK 5 |
| 中秋节 | Zhōngqiū Jié | the Mid-Autumn Festival on 15th of 8th lunar month | HSK 5 |
| 圣诞节 | Shèngdàn Jié | Christmas time; Christmas season | HSK 6 |
| 节奏 | jiézòu | rhythm; tempo | HSK 6 |
节 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 节
How many strokes are in 节?
节 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 节 mean?
节 (jié) means joint; node; (bound form) section; segment; solar term (one of the 24 divisions of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar). A common word with it is 节目 (jiémù), meaning "(TV or radio) program; show; item; act; segment; number (on the program of a concert, vari".
How do you pronounce 节?
节 is pronounced jié, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 节?
The radical of 节 is 艹, which carries the idea of "grass". Dictionaries list 节 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 节?
The traditional form of 节 is 節. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 节 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 节 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 节 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How do I use 节 as a measure word?
Use 节 for class periods, sections of something long, and train carriages, as in 一节课 (yī jié kè) one class and 两节车厢 (liǎng jié chēxiāng) two train cars. It also counts batteries: 两节电池 (liǎng jié diànchí).
When is 节 pronounced jiē instead of jié?
Only in 节骨眼 (jiēguyǎn), meaning a critical moment or juncture. In almost every other word, including 节日 and 节约, it is jié with the second tone.