膝 (xī) - Knee — the joint between the thigh and

膝Tone 1

xī ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

膝 · xī

Knee — the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in humans.

Knee — the joint between the thigh and

Usage highlights

KneeOn the kneeKneecapKnee jointBend the kneeKnee socks

Synonyms

  • 膝盖— knee (the common noun)

Antonyms

  • 肘— elbow (the other major joint of the arm, often contrasted with the knee)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He injured his knee (膝盖) playing sports.
  • She sat on her father's knee (膝上).
  • The doctor checked his patellar reflex (膝跳反射).
  • He knelt on one knee (单膝跪地) to propose.

Collocations

  • Knee(膝盖)
  • On the knee(膝上)
  • Kneecap(膝盖骨)
  • Knee joint(膝关节)
  • Bend the knee(屈膝)
  • Knee socks(及膝袜)

Idioms

  • To kneel and kowtow(卑躬屈膝)
  • To love one's children (舐犊情深) — lit. 'to lick the calf', but implies deep affection, sometimes associated with a parent's lap/knee
  • To move the knee closer (促膝谈心) — to sit knee-to-knee for an intimate talk

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, bending the knee (屈膝) is a gesture of respect or submission.
  • The knee is associated with family intimacy, as in a child sitting on a parent's lap (膝上).
  • The character contains the 'meat/flesh' (月) radical, indicating its relation to the body.

FAQ