桀 (jié) - fierce, cruel, tyrannical & name of the last ruler of the Xia

桀Tone 2

jié ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

桀 · jié

fierce, cruel, tyrannical;

name of the last ruler of the Xia dynasty, known for his cruelty;

outstanding, heroic (in some contexts);

a wooden frame for hanging criminals.

fierce, cruel, tyrannicalname of the last ruler of the Xiaoutstanding, heroic (in some contexts)

Usage highlights

King Jie of Xiatyrannical rulerfierce and unrulyoutstanding talentcruel and oppressiveJie's excesses

Synonyms

  • 暴— violent, cruel
  • 残— brutal, savage
  • 虐— tyrannical, oppressive

Antonyms

  • 仁— benevolent, kind
  • 善— good, virtuous
  • 慈— compassionate, merciful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The last ruler of Xia was King Jie (夏桀).
  • He was known for his tyrannical rule (桀纣之君).
  • The term can describe a fierce person (桀骜不驯).
  • In some contexts, it means outstanding talent (俊杰).

Collocations

  • King Jie of Xia(夏桀)
  • tyrannical ruler(桀纣)
  • fierce and unruly(桀骜不驯)
  • outstanding talent(俊杰)
  • cruel and oppressive(桀虐)
  • Jie's excesses(桀溺)

Idioms

  • Fierce and untamable(桀骜不驯)
  • Jie and Zhou, the archetypal tyrants(桀纣)
  • Aiding the tyrant Jie(助桀为虐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Jie was the last king of the Xia dynasty, traditionally portrayed as a tyrant whose misrule led to the dynasty's overthrow.
  • In historical texts, 'Jie' became synonymous with tyranny and cruelty, often paired with Zhou, the last king of Shang.
  • Despite its negative connotations, the character appears in positive compounds like 俊杰 (outstanding talent), showing semantic complexity.

FAQ