jǐn

tense

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound, while represents the meaning.

Components
臤 sound component

  Sound component

qiān

  

to gouge out an eye

糸 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

silk

Depicts a thread being tightened.

Evolution

緊 Seal script Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal script

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
緊 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
緊 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

jǐn

tense, tight, taut; firm, secure; tight; strict; close at hand; near; urgent; tense; hard up; short of money; to tighten

Most common words with 緊
Freq.
Word
Meaning

紧张

nervous

tight

紧急

urgent

赶紧

hurriedly

抓紧

to grasp firmly