What does 经 mean in Chinese?

经 (jīng) means "to pass through" in Chinese. The new HSK exam expects you to recognise it at HSK 2.

How do you write 经?

经 is written with 8 strokes, starting from the 纟 (silk) radical and following standard Chinese stroke order (top to bottom, left to right). See the interactive stroke-order tool for the full animation.

What is the radical of 经?

The radical of 经 is 纟 (silk, Kangxi radical #120). Other common HSK characters using the same radical include 结, 绝, 给, 红.

How many strokes does 经 have?

The Chinese character 经 has 8 strokes.

What HSK level is 经?

On the new HSK exam syllabus, 经 is a character to recognise at HSK 2.

经 (jīng): Meaning, Stroke Order, Radical & Examples

经

jīng

to pass through

HSK 2 character 8 strokes Radical: 纟 (silk)

Quick Answer

经 (jīng) means "to pass through" with 8 strokes, radical 纟 (silk), HSK 2 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 经 →Animated stroke-order for 经 →

Pronunciation

jīng

Meaning

Primary: to pass through

Etymology

Silk threads that have passed through — already, classic

Mnemonic hooks the visual decomposition to a memorable image. The full oracle-bone to modern evolution is being added character-by-character via the Phase 13 etymology pass.

Decomposition

经=纟radical+巠component

Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.

Basic info

Pinyin	jīng
Meanings	to pass through
Stroke count	8 strokes
Radical	纟 (#120: silk)
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 2
Frequency	#100 most common

Example sentences

我每天经过这个公园。
Wǒ měitiān jīngguò zhège gōngyuán.
I pass through this park every day.
From 经 (HSK 7-9)
我已经吃过了。
Wǒ yǐjīng chī guò le.
I've already eaten.
From 已经 (HSK 2)
我经常去图书馆。
Wǒ jīngcháng qù túshūguǎn.
I often go to the library.
From 经常 (HSK 2)

Words containing 经

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
经	jīng	to pass through	HSK 7-9
已经	yǐjīng	already	HSK 2
经常	jīngcháng	Often	HSK 2
经理	jīnglǐ	manager	HSK 3
经过	jīngguò	After, through	HSK 3
经济	jīngjì	Economics	HSK 4
经历	jīnglì	experience	HSK 4
经验	jīngyàn	experience	HSK 4
经典	jīngdiǎn	classics; scriptures	HSK 5
曾经	céngjīng	once	HSK 5
经商	jīngshāng	be in business; trade	HSK 6
经营	jīngyíng	Management	HSK 5
饱经沧桑	bǎojīngcāngsāng	having experienced great changes	HSK 7-9
不经意	bùjīngyì	inadvertently, carelessly	HSK 7-9

Related characters

Don't confuse with

轻

经 (jīng) ≠ 轻 (qīng), light

径

经 (jīng) ≠ 径

Share the 纟 (silk) radical

结绝给gěi 红hóng 终绿lǜ

See all characters with the 纟 radical →

Similar meaning (abstract)

不not 大big 公public 分to divide 对correct 定to decide 方direction 得to get

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 经 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Appears in these articles

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

经

jīng

to pass through

HSK 2 character 8 strokes Radical: 纟 (silk)

Quick Answer

经 (jīng) means "to pass through" with 8 strokes, radical 纟 (silk), HSK 2 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 经 →Animated stroke-order for 经 →

Pronunciation

jīng

Meaning

Primary: to pass through

Etymology

Silk threads that have passed through — already, classic

Mnemonic hooks the visual decomposition to a memorable image. The full oracle-bone to modern evolution is being added character-by-character via the Phase 13 etymology pass.

Decomposition

经=纟radical+巠component

Breaking a character into its components makes it far easier to recall. Each component above links to its own detail page.

Basic info

Pinyin	jīng
Meanings	to pass through
Stroke count	8 strokes
Radical	纟 (#120: silk)
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 2
Frequency	#100 most common

Example sentences

我每天经过这个公园。
Wǒ měitiān jīngguò zhège gōngyuán.
I pass through this park every day.
From 经 (HSK 7-9)
我已经吃过了。
Wǒ yǐjīng chī guò le.
I've already eaten.
From 已经 (HSK 2)
我经常去图书馆。
Wǒ jīngcháng qù túshūguǎn.
I often go to the library.
From 经常 (HSK 2)

Words containing 经

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
经	jīng	to pass through	HSK 7-9
已经	yǐjīng	already	HSK 2
经常	jīngcháng	Often	HSK 2
经理	jīnglǐ	manager	HSK 3
经过	jīngguò	After, through	HSK 3
经济	jīngjì	Economics	HSK 4
经历	jīnglì	experience	HSK 4
经验	jīngyàn	experience	HSK 4
经典	jīngdiǎn	classics; scriptures	HSK 5
曾经	céngjīng	once	HSK 5
经商	jīngshāng	be in business; trade	HSK 6
经营	jīngyíng	Management	HSK 5
饱经沧桑	bǎojīngcāngsāng	having experienced great changes	HSK 7-9
不经意	bùjīngyì	inadvertently, carelessly	HSK 7-9