Meaning
紧 describes something that is tight, tense, or closely fitted, either physically or metaphorically. It can refer to physical tightness (like tight clothing), temporal urgency (tight schedule), or strictness (tight security). The character conveys a sense of closeness, tension, or lack of slack.
Usage
紧 is extremely versatile and commonly appears in compounds. It can describe physical sensations (衣服太紧 'clothes too tight'), time pressure (时间很紧 'time is tight'), or strictness (管得紧 'managed strictly'). Often paired with 松 (loose) as an opposite. In colloquial speech, 紧张 (nervous/tense) is one of the most frequent extensions.
Examples
- 01这双鞋有点儿紧。.These shoes are a bit tight.
- 02最近工作很紧，没时间休息。, .Work has been very tight recently, no time to rest.
Common collocations
- 时间紧time is tight
- 紧紧地tightly
- 抓紧to grasp firmly, hurry up
- 紧身tight-fitting
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 緊 consists of 糸 (silk/thread radical) and 臤, suggesting the idea of threads pulled taut or bound tightly together.