Definition
际 is a bound form (b.f.) that appears in compound words. Its core meanings are spatial ('border, boundary, edge') and temporal ('occasion, time'), as well as relational ('among, between, inter-'). For example, 国际 (guójì, international) uses the spatial sense, 实际 (shíjì, actual) uses the 'border' sense metaphorically, and 之际 (zhījì, at the time of) uses the temporal sense. As a bound form, it cannot stand alone as a word.
b.f.
(bound form) borderboundaryedge(bound form) occasiontime(bound form) amongbetweeninter-
Examples
- 。Guó jì guānxì hěn zhòngyào.International relations are very important.
- ？Shí jì qíngkuàng rúhé?What is the actual situation?
- ，。Bìyè zhī jì, dàjiā dōu hěn bùshě.At the time of graduation, everyone was very reluctant.
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