济 (jǐ): used in the place name Jinan

Meanings

1 used in the place name Jinan
2 numerous; in great number (in 济济)

Characters

济

jǐ

used in the place name Jinan

Examples

济南是山东省的省会。

Jǐnán shì Shāndōngshěng de shěnghuì.

Jinan is the capital of Shandong province.

大会上人才济济，济济一堂。

Dàhuì shàng réncáijǐjǐ, jǐjǐyītáng.

The conference brought a hall full of talented people together under one roof.

Tips

usage

jǐ shows up in only a few fixed places: the Shandong capital 济南 (and the old Ji River it is named after), and the reduplicated 济济 meaning 'numerous, abundant' — 人才济济 (an abundance of talent), 济济一堂 (a gathering of many distinguished people). Everywhere else the character is read jì.

Components

radical

氵 shuǐ

water (left-side form of 水)

The three-drop water radical, a left-side form of 水, places 济 among crossing and flowing characters — the original sense was fording a river. The same radical anchors 河, 海 and 洗, marking anything liquid or watery.

phonetic

齐 qí

even; aligned (here phonetic)

Right side supplies the sound: 齐 (qí) drifted to jì, a common initial-and-tone shift. It also lends a faint flavor of 'all together, in step', which fits 济's sense of crossing as a group or aiding many at once.