劫

• Pinyin: jié
• Hanzi breakdown: 劫 = 去 (go) + 力 (strength) — to take by force

Meaning

To rob; to plunder; to hijack. Taking by force or threat.

A versatile character used in various compound words related to robbery and disaster. Can refer to armed robbery, hijacking, or natural calamities. Also used in Buddhist context to mean 'kalpa' (an eon). Common in expressions like 抢劫 (robbery) and 浩劫 (catastrophe).

Examples

1. 两名蒙面男子持刀劫走了珠宝店的名贵首饰。 Two masked men with knives robbed the jewelry store of its precious items.
2. 这部电影讲述了一群人劫银行的故事。 This movie tells the story of a group of people robbing a bank.
3. 那场战争给这个国家带来了一场浩劫。 That war brought a catastrophe to this country.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, disaster, Buddhism

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 他们打算劫这辆运钞车。(They plan to rob this armored car.)
• 这是在劫难逃。(This is an inescapable disaster.)

Don't Say

• 用'劫'形容普通的偷盗 (Don't use 劫 for ordinary theft — it implies violent robbery or plunder, not petty theft)

Origin & History

An ancient character originally depicting plunder and forceful taking. In Buddhist scriptures, it was used to transliterate the Sanskrit 'kalpa' meaning an extremely long period of time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal