ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
介

to introduce; between

jiè
4 strokes · 人 (person) between two boundary strokes — a person standing in the middle · HSK 2

What 介 is made of

人 + 丿 + 丨 = 介
人person; human rén
丿falling-left stroke
丨vertical stroke

Where 介 comes from

介 drew a person wearing armor plates front and back — later read as a person standing between two sides. Everything 介 does happens in the middle: introducing two strangers, mediating, or being the interface (界面's cousin).

介 in Chinese culture

自我介绍 self-introduction is the ritual opening of every Chinese classroom, job interview, and blind date — name, hometown, hobby, in that order. 介意 'to mind' asks whether something crosses your boundary: 你介意吗?

Example

介绍 jièshào — to introduce

我来介绍一下我的朋友。
Wǒ lái jièshào yíxià wǒ de péngyou.
Let me introduce my friend.

How to remember it

A person 人 standing BETWEEN two lines — the INTRODUCER in the middle.

简介 'brief introduction' is the word on every app store page and book jacket — including the one you read before downloading this app.

Same sound, different tones

接
1st jiē
to receive
节
2nd jié
festival
姐
3rd jiě
elder sister
介
4th jiè
to introduce

Words unlocked by 介

介绍 jièshào
to introduce
介意 jièyì
to mind

Related characters

LEARN 介 WITH STROKE-BY-STROKE WRITING → DOWNLOAD ZHIZHI
One character a morning · 455-character HSK library · iOS