金 jīn — gold, metal · English

金

jīn

gold, metal

At a glance · 金

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

金字小篆从土今声（或会意），本义为金属、黄金；甲骨文象铜锭或采金之形。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

金本义为金属，特指黄金、青铜。

Structure

金为形声（从土今声）或会意，象金属原料之形，今作声符。

At a glance

Pinyinjīn

Radical金

Strokes8

UnicodeU+91D1

Character type形声

Theme器物

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English gold, metal Jin means metal in general and gold in particular.

Français or, métal Jin signifie le métal en général et l'or en particulier.

Español oro, metal Jin significa metal en general y oro en particular.

العربية ذهب، معدن جين تعني المعدن عموماً والذهب خصوصاً.

Русский золото, металл Цзинь означает металл вообще и золото в частности.

Common words

黄金huáng jīngold
金属jīn shǔmetal

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