How to Write 津 (jīn) — Meaning “Ferry / Saliva / Subsidy”

Picture a ferry (津) crossing a river with three water drops (氵) on the left. On the right, imagine a boatman holding an oar that looks like the top part of 聿. This image ties the character to its 'ferry' meaning and helps you recall the form.

Write the left radical 氵 first: dot, dot, lift (3 strokes). Then the right part 聿: horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical (6 strokes) — 9 total. A common mistake is making the right part too wide or confusing the order of the horizontal strokes; keep the left side narrow and the right side tall.

The similar character 㳄 (xián) means 'saliva' but has the component 欠 (qiàn) on the right, not 聿. 汧 (qiān) is a river name with the right side 开 (kāi). In contrast, 津 is common in words like 天津 (Tianjin) and 津津有味, while 㳄 and 汧 are extremely rare or obsolete.

津 appears most often in the city name 天津 (Tiānjīn), a major port in China. It also appears in 津贴 (jīntiē, 'subsidy' or 'allowance') and 津津有味 (jīnjīnyǒuwèi, 'with great relish'), which describes enjoying food or an activity thoroughly. Culturally, Tianjin is famous for its lively humor and street food, so 津津有味 often appears when talking about enjoying local snacks or stories.

Common words containing 津 include: 天津 (tiān jīn) — Tianjin; 津津有味 (jīn jīn yǒu wèi) — With great relish / With keen interest; 津贴 (jīn tiē) — Subsidy / Allowance.