to gather, to collect

JLPT N2 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage of (jí)

The character primarily means "to gather" or "to collect." It can describe people coming together, like in a meeting or assembly, or the act of collecting items such as stamps or books. Additionally, can refer to a collection or compilation, such as a poetry collection ().

Common Collocations

  • 集会 (jíhuì): assembly or meeting, used when people gather for discussion or events.
  • (jíyóu): stamp collecting, a common hobby.
  • (shījí): poetry collection, a book compiling poems.

Notes

When used as a verb, often implies an intentional or organized gathering or collection. It differs from (jù), which also means "to gather" but often emphasizes physical closeness or crowding. is more formal and can be used in both social and material contexts.

Avoid confusing with 集中 (jízhōng), which means "to concentrate" or "focus," although they share the character .

In conversation, is often part of compound words rather than used alone.

Example Sentences

Everyone gathered in the park to discuss community issues.

He likes collecting stamps and already has many valuable ones.

This book is his poetry collection, containing his works over many years.