Level 2 · Unit 7 Animals, Fruits & Food

How to Write 鸡 (jī)

Meaning: "Chicken"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
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Detailed Mastery Guide for 鸡

The character 鸡 (Traditional: 雞) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Chicken". In our Level 2 curriculum, we focus on the 18-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Animals, Fruits & Food, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

鸡肉 jīròu gai1 juk6
chicken meat
鸡蛋 jīdàn gai1 daan2
chicken egg

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 鸡 is built on the radical bird (196). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

A phono-semantic compound: the left component represents the bird, while the right component indicates the sound.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 我今天中午吃了鸡肉。

Wǒ jīntiān zhōngwǔ chī le jīròu.

Traditional: 我今天中午吃了雞肉。

ngo5 gam1 tin1 zung1 ng5 hek3 liu5 gai1 juk6.

"I ate chicken for lunch today."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as jī. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is gai1. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '鸡'?

A) Chicken
B) Duck
C) Goose
D) Bird

Other Characters in Level 2 Unit 7

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

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