How to Write 竞 (jìng) — Meaning “To compete; to contend”

Picture two brothers standing on a stage—the top radical 立 shows them standing upright, and the bottom part 兄 reminds you of an elder brother. Imagine them competing in a race; the shape of 竞 even looks like a person with arms raised in victory.

Write the top part 立 first: dot, horizontal, then the two dots and a short horizontal. Then write the bottom 兄: vertical stroke, two horizontals, and finally a curved stroke. A common mistake is making the bottom too wide—keep it narrow like a standing person, and ensure the final stroke curves left slightly.

竞 (jìng) means "to compete" and has the radical 立 on top with 兄 below, while 亲 (qīn) means "parent" or "relative" and has 立 on top with 木 (wood) below. 竖 (shù) means "vertical" or "to erect" and has 立 on top with 罒 (net) below—it lacks the curved final stroke of 竞.

竞 appears in common words like 竞争 (competition) and 竞赛 (contest), used in business, sports, and academic settings. In Chinese culture, the character reflects the value of striving and fair play, often seen in phrases like 良性竞争 (healthy competition).

Common words containing 竞 include: 竞争 (jìng zhēng) — Competition; to compete; 竞赛 (jìng sài) — Contest; competition; race; 竞技 (jìng jì) — Athletics; sports competition.