荊 (jīng) - Thorny shrub, bramble & a type of plant

荊Tone 1

jīng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 艹

傑君

荊 · jīng

Thorny shrub, bramble;

a type of plant;

historical region in ancient China;

used in names.

Thorny shrub, bramblea type of planthistorical region in ancient China

Usage highlights

Thorns and bramblesJingzhou regionPeople of JingJing and ChuJing barbariansVitex plant

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The path was overgrown with brambles (荆棘).
  • Jingzhou was an important region in ancient China (荆州).
  • They identified themselves as people from Jing (荆人).
  • The plant Vitex is known as Chinese chastetree (荆条).

Collocations

  • Thorns and brambles(荆棘)
  • Jingzhou region(荆州)
  • People of Jing(荆人)
  • Jing and Chu(荆楚)
  • Jing barbarians(荆蛮)
  • Vitex plant(荆条)

Idioms

  • To apologize with a bundle of brambles(负荆请罪)
  • Thorns blocking the path(荆棘塞途)
  • The land of Jing and Chu(荆楚之地)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically referred to the Jing region in central China, corresponding to modern Hubei and surrounding areas.
  • In ancient times, 'Jing' was sometimes used pejoratively to refer to non-Chinese peoples in the south.
  • The character appears in historical accounts of the Warring States period and Three Kingdoms period.
  • The idiom '负荆请罪' (apologizing with brambles) comes from a famous story of reconciliation.

FAQ