Definition
即 (jí) is a formal adverb with three distinct uses: (1) 'namely, that is' (introducing a definition); (2) 'immediately, at once' in the literary pattern 一A即B ('as soon as A then B'), more concise than 立刻 or 当下; (3) 'even if' in formal concessive clauses, similar to 即便 but shorter and more classical. It is not used in everyday speech.
adverb
namelythat isimmediatelyat once (often in the pattern 一A即B 'as soon as A then B')even ifeven though (used in formal concessive clauses)
Easily confused
- 卸xièlook-aliketo unload, to offload (cargo, goods)
- 几jǐsound-alike(interrogative) how many; how much
- 印yìnlook-alike(verb) to print, stamp, or engrave
- 季jìsound-alikeseason
- 记jìsound-aliketo remember; to memorize
- 集jísound-alike(noun) collection, anthology, collected works
- 鸡jīsound-alikechicken
- 及jísound-alike(conjunction) and; as well as (used in formal writing to connect nouns or noun phrases)
- 寄jìsound-aliketo send (by mail), to mail, to post
- 急jísound-alike(adjective) urgent; rapid; hurried
Examples
- 即，。Chūnjié jí nónglì xīnnián, shì Zhōngguó rén zuì zhòngyào de jiérì.Spring Festival is the Lunar New Year — it's the most important holiday for Chinese people.
- ，即。Zhè piān kèwén hěn nán, dàn tā yí kàn jí dǒng.This text is very difficult, but he understood it as soon as he looked at it.
- ，。jíshǐ bù chénggōng, wǒmen yě bù huīxīn.Even if we don't succeed, we won't get discouraged.
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