How to Write 集 (jí) — Meaning “to gather; collection; market”

Imagine a flock of birds (隹) all perching on the same tree (木) — they have gathered together. This mental picture of birds meeting on a branch helps you remember that 集 means 'to gather' or 'collection'.

The top part 隹 should be slightly narrower than the bottom 木. A common mistake is making the top too wide or the bottom too small, which ruins the balance. Also, remember the bottom 木 has a horizontal stroke that extends to the left and right.

集 has 木 (tree) underneath the bird component, meaning 'gather'. 隺 has 冖 (a cover) above the bird and is an ancient form of 鹤 (crane). 䧹 is a rare character related to 'eagle' and uses a different top radical. Their meanings and visual structures are clearly distinct.

集 appears in common words like 集合 (to assemble), 集中 (to concentrate), and 影集 (photo album). It also means 'market' in words like 赶集 (to go to market), reflecting the idea of people gathering to trade.

Common words containing 集 include: 集合 (jí hé) — to gather; to assemble; 集中 (jí zhōng) — to concentrate; to focus; 影集 (yǐng jí) — photo album; TV series collection.