How to Write 跽 (jì) — Meaning “to kneel (with the upper body straight)”

Imagine a person kneeling with their back straight, and their "foot" (足) is firmly on the ground. The right side 忌 looks like a person (己) with a heart (心) underneath, reminding you to "remember" (忌) to keep your upper body upright while kneeling. This image of disciplined kneeling helps link the shape to the meaning.

Pay close attention to the left radical 足: it starts with a short horizontal stroke, then a vertical, followed by a small horizontal and a left-falling stroke, ending with a sweeping stroke. A common mistake is to miss the final rising stroke under the left side of the bottom. Also, the right part 忌 has a vertical hook that should not become a straight line; the heart radical (心) below must be written compactly with three dots properly spaced.

While 跽 means to kneel upright, 䠀 (tǎng) means to lie down or stretch out, with a 尚 phonetic. 跆 (tái) means to tread or trample, as in 跆拳道 (taekwondo), and has a 台 phonetic. Visually, 跽 uses 忌 on the right, 䠀 uses 尚, and 跆 uses 台 — so the right-side components are distinct. Their meanings are also unrelated: one is kneeling, one is lying, and one is stepping.

The character 跽 is rarely used in daily conversation; it appears mainly in historical or formal contexts describing ancient sitting customs. For example, 跽坐 (jì zuò) refers to a traditional kneeling posture used in Chinese tea ceremonies or classical etiquette. You might encounter it in literature or historical dramas when characters kneel respectfully with their back straight, but it is not a common modern verb for "kneel" (which is usually 跪 guì).

Common words containing 跽 include: 跽坐 (jì zuò) — to sit on one's heels; kneeling posture; 跽跪 (jì guì) — to kneel upright; 跽受 (jì shòu) — to receive while kneeling.