戒指

jièzhi

noun HSK 7-9 #1,697

Measure Word

一枚戒指 méi

Meanings

1 ring (jewelry)

Characters

to warn; to abstain

Literally 'warning finger' — in ancient China, a ring on a concubine's finger signaled the emperor to abstain.

Examples

他送了她一枚钻石戒指。

Tā sòng le tā yì méi zuànshí jièzhi.

He gave her a diamond ring.

她的戒指很漂亮。

Tā de jièzhi hěn piàoliang.

Her ring is very beautiful.

Tips

history

The origin of 戒指 is debated, but one popular theory traces it to the imperial court: palace women wore rings to signal 戒 (abstain) to the emperor. Over time the 'warning ring' became any finger ring.

Stroke Order

戒 jiè

指 zhǐ