井

• Pinyin: jǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 井 = pictograph of a well's wooden frame structure, showing the cross-beams

Meaning

Well; a shaft dug for water. Also used metaphorically and in various compound words.

Refers to traditional water wells, oil wells (油井), mine shafts (矿井), or metaphorical uses. Common in idioms like 井井有条 (orderly, well-organized) and 井底之蛙 (frog in a well — someone with limited vision). The character shape resembles a well's wooden frame.

Examples

1. 村里那口老井已经有上百年的历史了，至今还在使用。 That old well in the village has over a hundred years of history and is still in use today.
2. 石油公司在这片沙漠地区打了好几口井，终于找到了油田。 The oil company drilled several wells in this desert region and finally found an oil field.
3. 他把家里收拾得井井有条，什么东西都有固定的位置。 He keeps his home perfectly organized; everything has its designated place.

Usage Guide

Context: rural life, idioms, industry

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这口井的水特别甜。(The water from this well is especially sweet.)
• 井井有条是他最大的优点。(Being well-organized is his greatest strength.)

Don't Say

• 混淆井和泉，如'山上有一口井' (井 is man-made; natural springs are 泉 — mountains have 泉, not 井)

Origin & History

Pictograph representing the wooden frame structure around a well opening. One of the oldest Chinese characters, dating back to oracle bone script.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal