jì

穊

Character · Adjective · NounTraditional稷

dense; millet; ancient grain god

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

adjective

dense; close-packed

literary

A literary/classical term. Most commonly seen in the fixed phrase 深耕细种 (shēn gēng xì zhòng), but this character can carry the specific meaning of 'densely planted'.

Gǔ古
dài代
nóng农
shū书
tí提
chàng倡
shēn深
gēng耕
jì稷
zhòng种
 。

Ancient agricultural texts advocated deep plowing and dense planting.

Jì稷
jì稷
shǔ黍
miáo苗
 ，
yīn阴
yǔ雨
gāo膏
zhī之
 。

The dense millet seedlings are moistened by the rain. (Literary example)

2.

noun

millet (or a general term for grains); ancient grain god

literary

In classical texts, 稷 refers to millet, one of the principal grains. It is a key component of the term 社稷 (shè jì), which literally means 'gods of earth and grain' and metaphorically means 'the state' or 'the country'.

Shè社
jì稷
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
guó国
jiā家
de的
xiàng象
zhēng征
 。

Sheji (the gods of earth and grain) were symbols of the ancient state.

Jì稷
wéi为
bǎi百
gǔ谷
zhī之
zhǎng长
 。

Millet was considered the chief of the hundred grains.