集 meaning and stroke order
To gather; to collect; collected works
How to write 集, stroke by stroke
12 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 集
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to gather
- to collect
- collected works
- classifier for sections of a TV series etc: episode
How 集 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Birds 隹 flocking on a tree 木.
Radical: 隹 (short-tailed bird), shared by 32 characters on this site.
How to remember 集
The top part 隹 is a short-tailed bird and the bottom part 木 is a tree. Picture many birds flocking together on one tree, and you have 集 (jí), to gather.
集 appears in many words about bringing people or things together, such as 集中 (jízhōng), 集合 (jíhé) and 收集 (shōují). It is also a classifier for episodes of a TV series: 这部电视剧有三十集。(Zhè bù diànshìjù yǒu sānshí jí.) This TV series has thirty episodes.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 集 with 焦 (jiāo, scorched), which has the same 隹 on top but four dots 灬 underneath instead of a tree 木. Also keep the second tone in jí. Do not read it like 急 (jí) in meaning, even though they sound the same.
Common words with 集
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 集中 | jízhōng | to concentrate; to centralize | HSK 3 |
| 集体 | jítǐ | collective (decision); joint (effort) | HSK 3 |
| 集合 | jíhé | to gather; to assemble; (math.) set | HSK 4 |
| 收集 | shōují | to gather; to collect | HSK 5 |
| 集团 | jítuán | group; bloc | HSK 5 |
| 聚集 | jùjí | to assemble; to gather | HSK 7-9 |
| 召集 | zhàojí | to convene; to call together | HSK 7-9 |
| 集会 | jíhuì | to gather; assembly | HSK 7-9 |
| 搜集 | sōují | to gather; to collect | HSK 7-9 |
| 集结 | jíjié | to assemble; to concentrate | HSK 7-9 |
| 采集 | cǎijí | to gather; to collect | HSK 7-9 |
| 密集 | mìjí | concentrated; crowded together | HSK 7-9 |
| 集装箱 | jízhuāngxiāng | container (for shipping) | HSK 7-9 |
| 交集 | jiāojí | (of diverse emotions) to occur simultaneously; to intermingle; common ground; points of co | HSK 7-9 |
集 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 集
How many strokes are in 集?
集 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 集 mean?
集 (jí) means to gather; to collect; collected works. A common word with it is 集中 (jízhōng), meaning "to concentrate; to centralize".
How do you pronounce 集?
集 is pronounced jí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 集?
The radical of 集 is 隹, which carries the idea of "short-tailed bird". Dictionaries list 集 under this radical.
Is 集 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 集 is part of the HSK 3 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 集合 and 聚集?
集合 (jíhé) is often used for an organized assembly, like a teacher telling students to line up: 同学们，八点集合。聚集 (jùjí) describes people or things gathering, often on their own, like a crowd gathering on the street.
Does 集 mean market in Chinese?
Yes, in some words. 集市 (jíshì) is a country market or fair where people gather to trade, and 赶集 (gǎnjí) means to go to the market.