即

jí
#293 most
frequent character
that is, namely
conjunction
adverb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

即 shows a kneeling person beside a container of food, the picture of someone eating. That gives the first meaning, 'a person eating.' The sense 'near, immediate' was borrowed for its sound, then grew to 'reach' and 'therefore.'

Drawn as: kneeling person; food container

即 as a component in other characters

sound2 characters
唧鲫

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Example Sentences

我即将去北京。
wǒ jíjiāng qù běijīng 。
I am about to go to Beijing.
他即是我的好朋友。
tā jíshì wǒde hǎopéngyǒu 。
He is indeed my good friend.
即使下雨，我也会去爬山。
jíshǐ xiàyǔ ， wǒyě huì qù páshān 。
Even if it rains, I will still go hiking.

Words with similar meanings

就是jiùshì
that is
A more colloquial way to express equivalence; often used in conversation.
意即yìjí
meaning
More formal, used to clarify or elaborate on a statement.

Words Starting With 即

即使jí shǐ
even if; even though; given that
即便jí biàn
even if; even though; right away; immediately
即将jí jiāng
on the eve of; to be about to; to be on the verge of

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