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verb / noun HSK 4
Traditional 計
jì
to calculate · to plan · to count · plan · stratagem

Meaning

计 means to calculate, count, or devise a plan. It can function as both a verb (to calculate/plan) and a noun (a plan or strategy). In modern Chinese, it frequently appears in compounds related to planning, calculating, and measurement.

Usage

计 is rarely used alone in modern spoken Chinese and typically appears in compounds like 计划 (plan), 计算 (calculate), or 统计 (statistics). As a standalone character, it's more common in formal or written contexts, or in classical expressions like 三十六计 (the 36 stratagems).

Examples

  1. 01
    我们需要从长计议，不要急于做决定。
    Wǒmen xūyào cóng cháng jì yì, bù yào jí yú zuò juédìng.
    We need to plan carefully and not rush into a decision.
  2. 02
    他总是斤斤计较，为了一点小事就生气。
    Tā zǒng shì jīn jīn jì jiào, wèile yīdiǎn xiǎo shì jiù shēngqì.
    He's always haggling over details and gets angry over small matters.

Measure words

  • 个gè一个好计策

Common collocations

  • 不计其数
    bù jì qí shù
    countless, innumerable
  • 斤斤计较
    jīn jīn jì jiào
    to haggle over every penny
  • 从长计议
    cóng cháng jì yì
    to take time to plan carefully
  • 三十六计
    sān shí liù jì
    the 36 stratagems

Origin

The traditional form 計 combines 言 (speech/words) with 十 (ten), originally suggesting counting or reckoning through words or discussion.

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