jié

Jié is the pinyin romanization for several Chinese characters, most commonly 节 (traditional 節) and 结 (traditional 結). Although they share the same pronunciation in standard Mandarin, they have distinct meanings and usages and appear in many common words.

节 (節) has multiple related senses connected to division, occasion, and restraint. It can mean a festival or holiday (节日), a section or segment (段落中的“节” as a boundary), or a measure of time or degree (节拍, 节气). In everyday language it also appears in words about economy or moderation, such as 节省/節省 (to economize) and 节约/節約 (to conserve). The character is also used in phrases denoting regulation or restraint, like 节制 (to moderate or regulate).

结 (結) centers on joining, tying, or concluding. It denotes a knot or tie physically (结) and extends to abstract connections, such as forming or binding relationships (结合), or bringing things to an end (结论, conclusion). Common compounds include 结婚 (to marry), 结果 (result), 关系 but with different roots, and 结论 (conclusion). The character can function as a verbal morpheme indicating completion or consequence when paired with other characters.

In Chinese writing, 节 and 结 are both common elements in compound words and idioms. The traditional forms 節 and 結 are still used in many contexts, including Japanese and Korean writings that borrowed Chinese characters. The pronunciation jié remains consistent in Mandarin, while meanings are determined by the accompanying characters.