Basic Meaning

The Chinese character “金” (jīn) originally refers to metal or precious metals, such as gold. In Chinese, “金” is also a common radical, often used in characters related to metals, minerals, and wealth. Its pictograph depicts a metal block: the middle represents the substance, while the upper and lower parts represent the outer layer or decoration.

Characters Formed with “金”

“金” can combine with other components to form new characters:

  • 钢 (gāng): Metal + 冈, meaning steel, a hard metal.
  • 银 (yín): Metal + 艮, meaning silver, a precious metal.
  • 钱 (qián): Metal + 戋, meaning money or wealth.

These combinations show how Chinese characters use “金” as the core element to depict metals and related concepts.

Extended Meanings

  • Material sense: Refers to metals or precious items, e.g., 黄金 (huáng jīn - gold), 金属 (jīn shǔ - metal), 金币 (jīn bì - coin).
  • Five Elements (Wuxing): In ancient Chinese philosophy, “金” represents the West, autumn, and the Metal virtue.
  • Adjective meaning: Indicates preciousness, hardness, or value, e.g., 金贵 (jīn guì - precious), 金刚 (jīn gāng - indestructible).
  • Cultural symbolism: Symbolizes wealth, strength, value, and nobility.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

  1. Wealth and value: Represents prosperity and fortune, e.g., 聚金成宝 (jù jīn chéng bǎo - accumulate gold into treasure).
  2. Resilience and strength: Symbolizes hardness, durability, and power, e.g., 金刚不坏 (jīn gāng bù huài - indestructible).
  3. Philosophy and Wuxing: Represents the West, autumn, and the Metal virtue, associated with harvest and maturity.

Usage in Context

  • As a noun: 黄金 (huáng jīn - gold), 金属 (jīn shǔ - metal), 金币 (jīn bì - coin).
  • As an adjective: 金贵 (jīn guì - precious), 金刚 (jīn gāng - indestructible), 金色 (jīn sè - golden).
  • In literature and culture: Often used in idioms and poems to express wealth, resilience, and nobility.

Summary

The character “金” (jīn) has diverse meanings, from its original sense of metal and wealth to extended meanings of resilience, value, and cultural symbolism. Its usage in different contexts not only conveys material and wealth but also reflects Chinese cultural appreciation for strength, value, and nobility.