Sentence #3716040 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted
How 北极 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
北běinorth
北 is a single shape of 5 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from two people sitting back to back; later borrowed for “north”.
极jíextremely
木tree · mùMeaning part
及to extend · jíSound part
木 hints at the meaning (tree); 及 (jí) hints at the sound. Compare it with jí.
How to write 北极
北 5 strokes · 极 7 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 北极 (běijí). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
北极 (běijí) means “the North Pole” or “the Arctic”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it běijí: běi with a 3rd tone, then jí with a 2nd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 北极 is written 北極. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type beiji with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 北极 from the suggestions. Typing beiji into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
北极 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
北běi3rd tone, dipping
极jí2nd tone, rising
