系 meaning in English

xì

system; department

HSK 3nounverb7 strokes

Meaning of 系

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xì

system
department
faculty

xì

to connect
to relate to
to tie up
to bind
to be (literary)

xì

to connect
to arrest
to worry

jì

to tie
to fasten
to button up

How to use 系

As a noun, 系 (xì) often means a university department, as in 中文系 (Zhōngwén xì) Chinese department. It also appears in many common words about connection, like 关系 (guānxì) and 联系 (liánxì). Example: 我是历史系的学生。(Wǒ shì lìshǐ xì de xuésheng.) I am a student in the history department.

The top of 系 looks like a single stroke laid over 糸, a picture of twisted silk thread. Think of one thread tying many strands together, which is why 系 means to connect and also a system or department where parts are linked.

Common mistake: Learners often confuse 系 with 糸 (silk radical) or with 紧 (jǐn), since all share the thread shape at the bottom. Also, in 没关系 (méi guānxi) the 系 is usually said in a light neutral tone, not a full fourth tone.

系 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ认rèn为wéi他tā跟gēn这zhè件jiàn事shì没méi有yǒu任rèn何hé关guān系xì。

I don't think he has anything to do with the matter.

不bù只zhǐ是shì钱qián关guān系xì重zhòng大dà。

Money isn't the only thing that matters.

我wǒ不bù想xiǎng跟gēn她tā有yǒu关guān系xì。

I want nothing to do with her.

我wǒ们men的de关guān系xì非fēi常cháng好hǎo。

We had a great relationship.

他tā和hé那nà件jiàn事shì半bàn点diǎn关guān系xì也yě没méi有yǒu。

He had nothing to do with the case.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

系 xì · system · 7 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 系.

没关系	méi guānxi	it doesn't matter
关系	guānxì	relation; relationship; connection; to concern; to involve; to affect
联系	liánxì	connection; contact
系统	xìtǒng	system
系列	xìliè	series; set
一系列	yīxìliè	a series of; a string of
体系	tǐxì	system; setup
星系	xīngxì	see 恆星系\|恒星系[heng2 xing1 xi4]
性关系	xìngguānxi	sexual relations; sexual contact
太阳系	tàiyángxì	solar system
联系人	liánxìrén	contact person
维系	wéixì	to maintain; to keep up

Questions about 系

What does 系 mean?

系 (xì) means "system; department" and is used as a noun and verb.

How do you write 系?

系 is made of 1 character: 系 (7 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.

Is 系 an HSK word?

Yes. 系 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

When is 系 pronounced jì instead of xì?

Use jì when it means to physically tie or fasten something, like a belt, tie, or button. For example, 系鞋带 (jì xiédài) means to tie your shoelaces. In words about systems, departments, and relationships, it is xì.

What is the difference between 关系 and 联系?

关系 (guānxì) is the relationship or connection itself, such as between people or things. 联系 (liánxì) is more about contact or getting in touch, as in 跟我联系 (gēn wǒ liánxì) contact me.