集 (jí) · to gather; to assemble; to collect

Meanings

1 to gather; to assemble; to collect
2 collection; anthology; volume
3 episode (of a TV show)
4 measure word for episodes or parts of a series

Characters

集

jí

to gather; collection; episode

A bird 隹 landing in a tree 木 - gathering.

Examples

HSK 4

这部剧一共有三十集。

Zhè bù jù yígòng yǒu sānshí jí.

This drama has thirty episodes in total.

HSK 5

大家集合！

Dàjiā jíhé!

Everyone assemble!

HSK 5

我在收集邮票。

Wǒ zài shōují yóupiào.

I'm collecting stamps.

Tips

usage

集 is used in: 集合 (gather), 收集 (collect), 集中 (concentrate), 集市 (market/bazaar). As a measure word, 集 counts TV episodes: 第一集 (episode 1), 更新了两集 (two new episodes).

Components

radical

隹 zhuī

short-tailed bird

Top indexing bird radical 隹 - pictograph of a short-tailed bird in profile. The classic image: a bird perched on a branch. Other 隹 chars include 雀 (sparrow), 雁 (wild goose), 雕 (eagle), 难 (difficult - originally a kind of bird), 雇 (hire - paying with birds).

semantic

木 mù

tree

Bottom 木 - pictograph of a tree. Together the components depict birds settling on a tree, the original picture of "gathering" - a flock alighting in the branches. From this concrete scene came the abstract senses: to assemble, collection (诗集 poetry collection), market gathering (集市).