系

xì
HSK 5
#216 most
frequent character
to connect, to relate to, to tie up
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

系 shows a hand 丿 holding two bundles of silk 糸. That gave the first sense 'tied together', from which came 'to fasten', 'system, series', and 'department'. Read jì, it means 'to fasten, button up' or 'to tie up, bind'.

Drawn as: hand; two silk bundles

系 as a component in other characters

meaning2 characters
繁繇
sound1 character
鲧

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Example Sentences

这条桥把两岸联系在一起。
zhè tiáo qiáo bǎ liǎngàn liánxì zàiyīqǐ 。
This bridge connects the two banks.
我想知道这个问题和我们的讨论有什么关系。
wǒxiǎng zhīdào zhègè wèntí hé wǒmen de tǎolùn yǒu shénme guānxì 。
I want to know what this issue relates to our discussion.
他把所有的线系在了一起。
tā bǎ suǒyǒu de xiàn xì zài le yīqǐ 。
He tied all the threads together.

Same Characters, Different Readings

系jì
to tie, to fasten, to button up

Words with similar meanings

联系liánxì
to link
More commonly used in modern contexts; emphasizes the idea of establishing a connection.
绑定bǎngdìng
to bind
Focuses more on the physical act of tying or securing something.

Homophones

细xì
thin, slender, delicate, careful
戏xì
play, sport, joke, make fun of

Words Starting With 系

系统xì tǒng
system
系列xì liè
series

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Public Lists with 系

Advanced HSK5 Terms
Vocabulary commonly seen in HSK5 practice, bridging mid-high level usage.
HSK 5
All words for the HSK 5 test
Basic Verbs
Core action verbs like 'go,' 'come,' 'eat,' 'see,' commonly encountered in HSK.