How to Write 接 (jiē) — Meaning “to receive / to meet / to connect”

Imagine your hand (扌) reaching out to shake hands with a standing woman (女 on top of 立) at an airport – that is 接机 'picking someone up'. The image of a hand meeting a woman helps link to the meanings of 'receive' and 'connect'.

The left radical 扌 is written first: horizontal, vertical hook, then a sharp lift. The right part 妾 starts with 立: dot, horizontal, dot, left-falling, horizontal; then 女: left-falling, right-falling, horizontal. A common mistake is making the 女 component too wide – keep it narrow so the character stays balanced.

接 has a hand radical on the left and 妾 on the right, meaning 'to receive'. 拜 has two hands (手 side by side) and means 'to bow or worship'. 括 also has the hand radical but has 舌 (tongue) on the right, meaning 'to include'. Visually, look at the right side: 妾 vs. 舌 vs. the double-hand structure.

You use 接 for actions like 接电话 (answering the phone), 接受 (accepting an offer), and 接机 (picking someone up at the airport). In Chinese culture, going to the airport to 接机 is a common way to show hospitality and care for friends or family.

Common words containing 接 include: 接电话 (jiē diàn huà) — to answer the phone; 接受 (jiē shòu) — to accept; 接机 (jiē jī) — to pick up someone at the airport.