接

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jiē: 接 - To Receive, To Pick Up, To Connect, To Continue

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jie, 接, Chinese verb, what does jie mean, how to use jie, receive in Chinese, pick up in Chinese, connect in Chinese, answer the phone in Chinese, 接电话, 接人, 接下来, Chinese grammar, HSK 2 vocabulary.
  • Summary: Discover the versatile Chinese verb 接 (jiē), a fundamental word you'll encounter daily. Meaning “to receive,” “to pick up,” “to connect,” or “to continue,” 接 (jiē) is used for everything from answering a phone call and picking up a friend from the airport to catching a ball and continuing a story. This guide will break down its core meanings, cultural significance, and practical uses with dozens of examples, helping you master this essential character.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiē
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 2
  • Concise Definition: To receive, accept, connect, or continue something from another person or point.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine you are standing with your hands out. 接 (jiē) is the action of taking what is being passed to you. This could be a physical object (like a package), a person (picking someone up), a phone call, or even the flow of a conversation. It's about creating a link or accepting a transfer.

Character Breakdown

  • 接 (jiē): This character is a combination of two parts:
    • 扌(shǒu): This is the “hand radical” (a variation of 手). Its presence almost always indicates an action performed with the hands.
    • 妾 (qiè): In the modern character, this part primarily serves as the phonetic (sound) component.
  • Together, the character visually suggests an action (扌) of receiving or meeting, creating the core meaning of 接 (jiē). You use your hand to take or connect with something.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The act of 接人 (jiē rén), or “picking someone up,” holds significant cultural weight in China. It's a powerful gesture of hospitality, respect, and welcome.
  • Comparison to Western Culture: In many Western countries, if a friend is arriving at the airport, you might send them the address, train information, or suggest they take a taxi. While helpful, this is often seen as a transactional exchange of information. In China, personally going to the station or airport to 接 (jiē) them is a common and often expected act of friendship and care. It demonstrates that you value the person and your relationship (关系 - guānxi). Failing to do so for a close friend or important guest could be seen as cold or neglectful. This simple act physically embodies the warmth and importance placed on personal connections in Chinese culture.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 接 (jiē) is an extremely common verb used in many different contexts.
  • Receiving Calls and Objects: This is the most basic usage. It's the active counterpart to “sending” (送 sòng).
    • Answering the phone: 接电话 (jiē diànhuà)
    • Receiving a fax: 接传真 (jiē chuánzhēn)
    • Catching a ball: 接球 (jiē qiú)
  • Meeting and Picking People Up: A crucial social function.
    • Picking up a friend: 接朋友 (jiē péngyou)
    • Picking a child up from school: 接孩子放学 (jiē háizi fàngxué)
    • Receiving guests/clients (more formal): 接待客户 (jiēdài kèhù)
  • Continuing or Following: Used to describe sequence in actions or speech.
    • “Next…” or “Following this…”: 接下来 (jiē xiàlái) - an essential transition phrase.
    • “Go on,” “Continue speaking”: 接着说 (jiēzhe shuō)
    • Taking over a work shift: 接班 (jiēbān)
  • Connecting Physically: Linking one thing to another.
    • Connect a wire: 接电线 (jiē diànxiàn)
    • Lengthen something by adding a piece: 把绳子接上 (bǎ shéngzi jiē shàng)

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 你为什么不接我的电话？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bù jiē wǒ de diànhuà?
    • English: Why aren't you answering my phone?
    • Analysis: This is perhaps the most common use of 接. Note that the object is “phone call” (电话), not just “phone” (手机).
  • Example 2:
    • 我下午三点去机场接你。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ xiàwǔ sān diǎn qù jīchǎng jiē nǐ.
    • English: I'll go to the airport to pick you up at 3 PM.
    • Analysis: This shows the important social function of 接. The action is “to pick up,” and the object is “you” (你).
  • Example 3:
    • 接下来，我们请王经理讲话。
    • Pinyin: Jiē xiàlái, wǒmen qǐng Wáng jīnglǐ jiǎnghuà.
    • English: Next, let's invite Manager Wang to speak.
    • Analysis: 接下来 (jiē xiàlái) is a set phrase used constantly in meetings, presentations, and broadcasts to mean “next” or “up next.”
  • Example 4:
    • 他昨天接到了大学的录取通知书。
    • Pinyin: Tā zuótiān jiēdào le dàxué de lùqǔ tōngzhīshū.
    • English: He received his university acceptance letter yesterday.
    • Analysis: The “到 (dào)” acts as a result complement, indicating the action of “receiving” was successful. You will often see 接到.
  • Example 5:
    • 你先说，你说完我再接着说。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xiān shuō, nǐ shuō wán wǒ zài jiēzhe shuō.
    • English: You speak first, and I'll continue after you're finished.
    • Analysis: 接着 (jiēzhe) means “to continue” or “to follow on from.” It shows a sequence of actions.
  • Example 6:
    • 每天下午五点，他都准时去学校接孩子。
    • Pinyin: Měitiān xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn, tā dōu zhǔnshí qù xuéxiào jiē háizi.
    • English: Every day at 5 PM, he goes to the school on time to pick up his child.
    • Analysis: Another very common daily-life example of picking someone up.
  • Example 7:
    • 服务员，能帮我接一下市场部吗？
    • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, néng bāng wǒ jiē yíxià shìchǎngbù ma?
    • English: Excuse me (waiter/receptionist), can you connect me to the marketing department?
    • Analysis: Here, 接 means to connect a phone line or transfer a call.
  • Example 8:
    • 小心！接住这个球！
    • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Jiē zhù zhège qiú!
    • English: Be careful! Catch this ball!
    • Analysis: 接住 (jiē zhù) is another resultative complement. “住” indicates the action is firm and successful. You didn't just try to catch it, you caught it.
  • Example 9:
    • 这两根水管需要接起来。
    • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng gēn shuǐguǎn xūyào jiē qǐlái.
    • English: These two water pipes need to be connected.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the literal, physical meaning of connecting two separate things to make them one.
  • Example 10:
    • 明天谁来接你的班？
    • Pinyin: Míngtiān shéi lái jiē nǐ de bān?
    • English: Who is taking over your shift tomorrow?
    • Analysis: 接班 (jiēbān) is a set phrase meaning to take over a shift or a post from someone else. You are “receiving” their duty.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 接 (jiē) vs. 收到 (shōudào): This is a critical distinction for learners.
    • 接 (jiē) often implies a more active, physical, or immediate action. You 接 a phone call, you 接 a person, you 接 a ball.
    • 收到 (shōudào) means “to have received,” focusing on the result. It's used for things that arrive, like mail, emails, messages, or information. You 收到 an email, you 收到 a gift in the mail.
    • Incorrect: 我接了你的邮件。 (Wǒ jiē le nǐ de yóujiàn.) This sounds like you physically took the email out of the computer screen. It's wrong.
    • Correct: 我收到了你的邮件。 (Wǒ shōudào le nǐ de yóujiàn.) - I received your email.
    • Incorrect: 他去机场收到朋友。 (Tā qù jīchǎng shōudào péngyou.) This makes no sense.
    • Correct: 他去机场接朋友。 (Tā qù jīchǎng jiē péngyou.) - He went to the airport to pick up a friend.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 送 (sòng) - The primary antonym of 接. It means “to send,” “to deliver,” or “to see someone off.” (e.g., 送朋友去机场 - see a friend off to the airport).
  • 收到 (shōudào) - To have received (the result of receiving something, especially mail or messages).
  • 收 (shōu) - A broader verb meaning “to receive” or “to collect,” as in 收拾 (shōushi - to tidy up) or 收集 (shōují - to collect).
  • 接下来 (jiē xiàlái) - A set phrase meaning “next,” “then,” or “following this.”
  • 接待 (jiēdài) - To receive or entertain guests or clients, usually in a formal or professional context.
  • 连接 (liánjiē) - To connect or link, especially in a technical sense (e.g., 连接Wi-Fi - connect to Wi-Fi) or abstract sense.
  • 接着 (jiēzhe) - An adverb meaning “to continue on,” or “to follow up with.”
  • 直接 (zhíjiē) - Directly or immediate. While it contains 接, its meaning is different. It's useful to know to avoid confusion.