How to Write 系 (jì/xì) — Meaning “System / Department / To tie”

Q: What is a good memory trick to remember the character 系?

Imagine the top stroke as a hand reaching down to tie a piece of silk (糸) into a knot. This visual of a hand tying silk helps you recall both the shape and the meaning of "to tie" or "system".

Q: Are there any specific writing tips for 系, like stroke order or common mistakes?

Write the top left-falling stroke first (丿), then the 糸 component (6 strokes: two folded strokes, dot, vertical hook, left-falling, dot). A common mistake is making the top stroke too long or horizontal—keep it short and slanted.

Q: How can I tell 系 apart from the similar character 糸?

糸 is just the silk radical and is rarely used alone, while 系 has an extra stroke on top. The extra stroke changes the meaning from "silk" to "system" or "to tie." Visually, 系 is taller and has a distinct top mark.

Q: In what situations is 系 used in modern Chinese, and are there any cultural notes?

系 is very common as xì in words like 系统 (system) and 关系 (relationship), and as jì in 系鞋带 (to tie shoelaces). In Chinese culture, 关系 (guān xì) is a key concept referring to personal networks and connections.

Q: What common words use 系?

Common words containing 系 include: 系统 (xì tǒng) — system; 关系 (guān xì) — Relationship; relation; 系鞋带 (jì xié dài) — To tie shoelaces..

jì/xì HSK Level 1 7 strokes Radical: 糸

系 (jì/xì) means "System / Department / To tie" in Chinese. It has 7 strokes with the radical 糸, and is HSK Level 1.

Rated 2.6/5 in difficulty (moderate).

Harder than 36% of HSK Level 1 characters.

Appears in 4+ common words including 系统 (xì tǒng), 关系 (guān xì), 系鞋带 (jì xié dài).

Hanzi Writer's stroke validation shows learners typically need 5-8 attempts to write 系 with correct proportion and order.

Practice Writing 系 (jì/xì)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 系 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 系

The character 系 (jì/xì) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 糸 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does jì/xì (系) Mean in Chinese?

系 means System / Department / To tie.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: jì, xì.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 系 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Character Data

Character	系
Pinyin	jì / xì (ji/xi)
Meaning	System / Department / To tie
Strokes	7
Radical	糸
HSK Level	1
Difficulty	2.6/5

Origin of 系

系 originally depicted a hand (like 爪) grasping several threads (糸), illustrating the action of tying or binding. Over time, the hand simplified into the top strokes, while the bottom retained the silk radical, conveying connection, system, or department as linked entities.

💡 Memory Tip: Picture a hand tying a knot in a silk thread (糸) to create a system of connections.

Common Words with 系

系统 xì tǒng

system

关系 guān xì

Relationship; relation

系鞋带 jì xié dài

To tie shoelaces.

系紧 jì jǐn

To fasten; to tie tightly.

Example Sentences

电脑的操作系统的运行速度非常快。

diàn nǎo de cāo zuò xì tǒng de yùn xíng sù dù fēi cháng kuài

The computer's operating system runs very fast.

保持良好的人际关系对工作很有帮助。

bǎo chí liáng hǎo de rén jì guān xì duì gōng zuò hěn yǒu bāng zhù

Maintaining good interpersonal relationships is very helpful for work.

小弟弟已经学会了自己系鞋带。

xiǎo dì dì yǐ jīng xué huì le zì jǐ jì xié dài

The little brother has already learned to tie his own shoelaces.

在系紧安全带后，飞机准备起飞了。

zài jì jǐn ān quán dài hòu fēi jī zhǔn bèi qǐ fēi le

After the seatbelts were fastened, the plane was ready for takeoff.

Practice Writing 系 (jì/xì)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 系 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

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Frequently Asked Questions about 系

How is the character 系 structured, and how do its parts relate to its meaning?

系 is composed of the radical 糸 (silk) at the bottom, with a single stroke on top. The silk radical suggests connection or tying, which links to meanings like "to tie" and "system" (a connected whole).

What is a good memory trick to remember the character 系?

Are there any specific writing tips for 系, like stroke order or common mistakes?

How can I tell 系 apart from the similar character 糸?

In what situations is 系 used in modern Chinese, and are there any cultural notes?

What common words use 系?

How to Write 系 (jì/xì) — Meaning “System / Department / To tie”

Practice Writing 系 (jì/xì)

How to Write 系

What Does jì/xì (系) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 系

Common Words with 系

Example Sentences

Practice Writing 系 (jì/xì)

Frequently Asked Questions about 系

More HSK Level 1 Characters

Characters with Radical 糸

Other 7-Stroke Characters