知己

zhījǐ

noun HSK 7-9 #14,955

Measure Word

一个知己 gè

Meanings

1 bosom friend
2 intimate friend
3 soul mate

Characters

to know; to understand

Examples

人生得一知己足矣。

Rénshēng dé yī zhījǐ zú yǐ.

In life, having one true friend is enough.

她是我最好的知己。

Tā shì wǒ zuìhǎo de zhījǐ.

She is my closest confidant.

Tips

culture

知己 carries deep cultural weight in Chinese. The famous story of 伯牙 and 钟子期 (Boya and Zhong Ziqi) defines the ideal 知己 — someone who truly understands your heart.

memory

知 (to know) + 己 (oneself) = someone who knows you as well as you know yourself.

Stroke Order

知 zhī

己 jǐ