Chinese character · HSK 1
系 (xì / jì) — “system / to connect”
The character visually mimics a hanging silk cord: a top loop (丿), a central double knot (幺), and three spreading tassels at the bottom (小).
How to remember 系
A red silk thread tied into a knot with three small tassels hanging down, connecting everything together.
Inside the character
- 丿 (left-falling stroke) — meaning component. A single sweep stroke — usually a structural piece, not a meaning carrier.
- 幺 (tiny / young) — meaning component. A small twisted thread — often marks smallness, young age, or finely.
- 小 (small) — meaning component. Three small strokes — often marks smallness, fewness, or littleness.
Where 系 comes from
Etymologically derived from '糸' (silk), it originally depicted a bundle of fine silk threads hanging down, which evolved to mean 'to tie', 'connection', and eventually abstract concepts like 'system'.
Words that use 系
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 关系 | guān xi | relation / relationship | HSK 3 |
| 联系 | lián xì | variant of 联系 | HSK 3 |
| 系统 | xì tǒng | system | HSK 4 |
Learn 系 the visual way. InkSeal pairs every HSK 1–6 character
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More characters: 织 (zhī, to weave / to knit) · 罪 (zuì, sin / crime) · 西 (xī, west) — or browse the full character library.