戒

• Pinyin: jiè
• Hanzi breakdown: 戒 = 廾 (two hands) + 戈 (weapon), depicting holding a weapon to guard

Meaning

Quit; give up; abstain from; guard against.

Most commonly used for quitting bad habits like smoking (戒烟) or drinking (戒酒). Also appears in Buddhist context as precepts (戒律). Can mean to be vigilant (戒备). 戒指 means ring (worn as a reminder).

Examples

1. 为了健康，他下定决心要戒烟。 For his health, he made up his mind to quit smoking.
2. 医生建议她戒掉喝咖啡的习惯。 The doctor suggested she give up her coffee habit.
3. 减肥期间最难的就是戒掉甜食。 The hardest part of dieting is giving up sweets.

Usage Guide

Context: health, habits, self-improvement

Tone: determined

Do Say

• 他戒烟三个月了。(He's been off cigarettes for three months.)
• 我在戒糖。(I'm cutting out sugar.)

Don't Say

• 戒学习 (戒 is for bad habits — you wouldn't 'quit' learning, use 停止 or 放弃 instead)

Origin & History

Pictographic character showing hands holding a weapon, meaning to guard or be vigilant, extended to abstaining.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal