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

HSK 2

她的戒指很漂亮。

Tā de jièzhi hěn piàoliang.

Her ring is very beautiful.

HSK 7-9

他送了她一枚钻石戒指。

Tā sòng le tā yì méi zuànshí jièzhi.

He gave her a diamond ring.

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