How to Write 劼 (jié) — Meaning “Diligent; firm”

Imagine a person who is very diligent (劼) saying "Jié!" (like "yes!") while using their strength (力) to reach a lucky goal (吉). The left side 吉 looks like a cross on top of a box, and the right side 力 is a simple muscle symbol, helping you recall that hard work leads to good fortune.

Start by writing the left component 吉 from top to bottom: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal — making sure the last horizontal is slightly longer than the first. Then add the right component 力 with a horizontal hook (横折钩) and a left stroke (撇), keeping it vertically centered beside 吉.

劣 (liè) means bad or inferior and combines 少 (few) with 力, indicating weak strength. 劦 (xié) means to harmonize and is formed by three 力 （three strengths working together). In contrast, 劼 has 吉 plus one 力, focusing on firm diligence rather than weakness or cooperation.

劼 is very rare in everyday speech and is not included in the HSK vocabulary. It appears mainly in classical texts, formal names, or compound words like 勤劼 (qín jié, diligent and steadfast) to describe a person's character, especially in historical or literary contexts.

Common words containing 劼 include: 慎劼 (shèn jié) — cautious and prudent; 勤劼 (qín jié) — diligent and steadfast; 劼毙 (jié bì) — Execute; kill.