noun #53,726

Meanings

  1. 1 a fine horse
  2. 2 thoroughbred steed
  3. 3 a person of great talent

Examples

千里
Lǎo jì fú lì, zhì zài qiānlǐ.
An old steed in the stable still dreams of galloping a thousand li.
Fù jì wěi, fánrén yě néng chéngmíng.
Following a worthy mentor lets a lesser person rise too.

Tips

history
is the literary word for a thousand-li horse, a symbol of rare talent. The line 老骥伏枥 ('an old steed lies in its stall, yet still longs to run a thousand li') is from Cao Cao, praising ambition that does not fade with age.

Components

radical
horse
The horse radical, picturing a horse. It is the meaning core: is specifically a superb horse, and by extension an outstanding person.
phonetic
to hope for; (old name for Hebei)
Supplies the sound directly: jì gives its exact reading jì. The Hebei region was famed for good horses, a fitting echo here.

Stroke Order