How to Write 矶 (jī) — Meaning “jetty”

Picture a stone (石) shaped like a small table (几) sticking out into the water, creating a jetty where boats can tie up. This visual of a stone table acting as a dock will help you recall both the look and meaning of 矶.

Write the left radical 石 first (5 strokes: horizontal, left-falling, horizontal, vertical, short horizontal), then the right part 几 (2 strokes: left-falling hook, horizontal bend hook). A common mistake is making the 几 component too tall or too wide; keep it compact and centered so the character stays balanced.

石 alone just means "stone", while 矶 specifically means "jetty" or "rocky shore". 矸 (gān) refers to rock or ore, especially in mining contexts, and has a different right part (干 instead of 几). Visually, 矶 ends with a hook in 几, but 矸 ends with a straight vertical stroke.

矶 is not a common standalone word but appears in place names like 洛杉矶 (Luòshānjī, Los Angeles) and scenic spots like 采石矶 (Cǎishí Jī, a famous rocky islet on the Yangtze River). Culturally, 采石矶 is known for ancient poetry and battles, making 矶 a word tied to Chinese geography and history.

Common words containing 矶 include: 洛杉矶 (luò shān jī) — Los Angeles; 矶岸 (jī àn) — rocky shore; 采石矶 (cǎi shí jī) — Caishi Islet (a famous scenic spot in China).