及

jí

conjunction HSK 7-9 #1,237

Meanings

1 and; as well as
2 to reach; to come up to
3 in time for

Examples

来不及了！

Láibùjí le!

There's no time!

他以及他的朋友们都来了。

Tā yǐjí tā de péngyoumen dōu lái le.

He as well as his friends all came.

及时赶到了。

Jíshí gǎndào le.

Arrived just in time.

Tips

usage

及 is used in: 以及 (as well as), 及时 (in time), 来不及 (too late/not enough time), 及格 (to pass a test), 普及 (to popularize), 涉及 (to involve). It is more formal than 和 as a conjunction.

Components

radical

又 yòu

right hand; again

Lower 又 is the hand radical and the entry's filing point. The whole character pictures a hand reaching forward to catch up with a person already in motion — hence the meanings reach, catch up to, and also.

ideograph

及 jí

reach; catch up (upper fused body)

Top sweeping stroke functions as an abstract figure-marker above the 又 hand below — a stylized silhouette of the runner being reached for. Not a standalone CJK piece. Historically the schematic body of a fleeing person being chased, fused into one curving stroke.

Stroke Order