寄

• Pinyin: jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 寄 = 宀 (roof) + 奇 (unusual/phonetic) — staying under another's roof, hence entrusting or sending

Meaning

To send; to mail; to entrust. Describes the act of dispatching letters, packages, or placing trust in someone.

Primarily used for sending physical mail or packages (寄信, 寄包裹). Also used figuratively to mean entrusting or placing hopes in someone: 寄希望于 (to place hopes on). Common compounds include 寄存 (to leave in storage), 邮寄 (to mail), and 寄宿 (to board/lodge). In modern usage, extends to sending digital items in some contexts.

Examples

1. 我昨天去邮局寄了一个包裹。 I went to the post office yesterday and sent a package.
2. 她每个月都给父母寄钱。 She sends money to her parents every month.
3. 请帮我把这封信寄到上海。 Please help me mail this letter to Shanghai.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, postal, communication

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你帮我寄一下这个快递。(Please help me send this express package.)
• 信已经寄出去了。(The letter has already been sent out.)

Don't Say

• 我寄了一个微信给他 (Don't use 寄 for digital messages — use 发 for sending texts, emails, or WeChat messages)

Origin & History

Composed of 宀 (roof/shelter) and 奇 (strange/extraordinary), originally suggesting lodging or staying temporarily under someone else's roof — extended to mean entrusting or sending.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal