静

• Pinyin: jìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 静 = 青 (green/pure, phonetic) + 争 (to compete), originally meaning to settle; now means quiet and still

Meaning

Quiet; still; calm. Describes the absence of noise or movement, or a state of tranquillity.

Used for both physical silence (a quiet room) and emotional calmness (a peaceful mind). As a verb, 静 can mean 'to become quiet' or 'to calm down.' Common expressions include 安静 (quiet), 冷静 (calm/cool-headed), and 静下来 (to quiet down).

Examples

1. 图书馆里很静，大家都在看书。 The library is very quiet — everyone is reading.
2. 夜晚的湖面非常静。 The lake surface is very still at night.
3. 外面太吵了，但我的房间很静。 It's too noisy outside, but my room is very quiet.

Usage Guide

Context: environment, emotions, everyday

Tone: calm

Do Say

• 请保持安静。(Please keep quiet.)
• 让我静一静，我需要想一想。(Let me have some quiet — I need to think.)

Don't Say

• 这首歌很静。(Don't use 静 for songs — use 安静 or 轻柔 to describe gentle music. 静 describes environments or states, not music itself.)

Origin & History

Composed of 青 (green/pure, phonetic) and 争 (to compete). The original meaning was 'to settle a dispute,' evolving to mean 'quiet' and 'still.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal