桀

桀 U+6840, 桀 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6840 ← 栿 [U+683F] CJK Unified Ideographs 桁 → [U+6841]

Translingual

Han character

桀 (Kangxi radical 75, 木+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 弓手木 (NQD), four-corner 2590₄, composition ⿱舛木)

Derived characters

• 傑, 𠹳, 嵥, 搩, 滐, 榤, 㻧, 磔, 謋, 䮪, 椉(乘,乗), 𡩣

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 524, character 15
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14753
• Dae Jaweon: page 913, character 3
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1203, character 5
• Unihan data for U+6840

Chinese

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (桀) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
桀	*ɡrad
傑	*ɡrad
榤	*ɡrad
嵥	*ɡrad
滐	*ɡrad
搩	*ɡrad
謋	*qʰʷraːɡ

In Chu slips, Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *ɡrad) : phonetic 匄 (OC *kaːds) + semantic 木. In the modern script, 匄 has corrupted into 舛.

Etymology 1

trad.		桀
simp. #		桀

According to Schussler (2007), 桀 (OC *ɡrad) and 傑 (OC *ɡrad) are the same word meaning "outstanding > hero"; insides Sinitic, it is cognate to 朅 (OC *kʰrad, “martial”); outsides Sinitic, it is related to either Mizo hrât (“valiant, resolute”) or Tibetan གྱད (gyad, “strength; champion, athlete”).

STEDT reconstructs Proto-Sino-Tibetan *gjat (“hero, champion”) for 傑 (OC) ~ 桀 (OC *ɡrad) and གྱད (gyad).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): jié (jie²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄝˊ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): git⁶
• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): kia̍t

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jié
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄝˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jié
    • Wade–Giles: chieh²
    • Yale: jyé
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jye
    • Palladius: цзе (cze)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯ɛ³⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: git⁶
    • Yale: giht
    • Cantonese Pinyin: git⁹
    • Guangdong Romanization: gid⁶
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kiːt̚²/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kia̍t
    • Tâi-lô: kia̍t
    • Phofsit Daibuun: kiat
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kiɛt̚⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kiɛt̚²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kiɛt̚¹²¹/
    • IPA (Taipei): /kiɛt̚⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /kiɛt̚⁴/

---

• Middle Chinese: gjet

Rime
Character	桀
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	群 (30)
Final (韻)	薛 (83)
Tone (調)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	渠列切
Baxter	gjet
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɡˠiᴇt̚/
Pan Wuyun	/ɡᵚiɛt̚/
Shao Rongfen	/ɡiæt̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/giat̚/
Li Rong	/ɡjɛt̚/
Wang Li	/ɡĭɛt̚/
Bernard Karlgren	/gi̯ɛt̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jié
Expected Cantonese Reflex	git6

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*N-[k]<r>at/, /*m-[k]<r>at/, /*[k]<r>at/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ɡrad/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	桀	桀	桀
Reading #	1/3	2/3	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	jié	jié	jié
Middle Chinese	‹ gjet ›	‹ gjet ›	‹ kjet ›
Old Chinese	/*N-[k]<r>at/	/*m-[k]<r>at/	/*[k]<r>at/
English	remarkable; hero	perch for fowls	lift, raise
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	桀
Reading #	1/1
No.	6461
Phonetic component	桀
Rime group	月
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	傑
Old Chinese	/*ɡrad/

Definitions

桀

1. chicken roost

   • 雞棲于桀、日之夕矣、羊牛下括。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     鸡栖于桀、日之夕矣、羊牛下括。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Jī qī yú jié, rì zhī xī yǐ, yáng niú xià kuò. [Pinyin]

     The fowls roost on their perches; and in the evening of the day, the goats and cows come down and home;

2. Jie of Xia, an ancient emperor

   • 韋顧既伐、昆吾夏桀。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     韦顾既伐、昆吾夏桀。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Wéi Gù jì fá, Kūnwú Xiàjié. [Pinyin]

     Having smitten [the princes of] Wei and Gu, [he smote] [the prince of] Kunwu, and with Jie of Xia.

   • 桀德，惟乃弗作往任，是惟暴德罔後。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     桀德，惟乃弗作往任，是惟暴德罔后。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Documents, circa 7^th – 4^th centuries BCE

     Jié dé, wéi nǎi fú zuò wǎng rèn, shì wéi bàodé wǎng hòu. [Pinyin]

     Jie’s character was such that he did not follow precedents in making appointments, and therefore his character was violent and ruined the future [of his kingdom].

3. fierce; brutal; cruel

   • 君不肖而側室賢，太子輕而庶子伉，官吏弱而人民桀，如此則國躁；國躁者，可亡也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君不肖而侧室贤，太子轻而庶子伉，官吏弱而人民桀，如此则国躁；国躁者，可亡也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Han Feizi, circa 2^nd century BCE, translated based on W. K. Liao's version

     Jūn bùxiào ér cèshì xián, tàizǐ qīng ér shùzǐ kàng, guānlì ruò ér rénmín jié, rúcǐ zé guó zào; guó zào zhě, kěwáng yě. [Pinyin]

     If the ruler is unworthy but his half-brothers are worthy; if the heir apparent is powerless and the concubine's son surpasses him; or if the magistrates are weak and the people are fierce; then the state will be seized with a panic. And a panic-stricken state is liable to ruin.

4. to lift; to raise; to shoulder; to bear

   • 齊高固入晉師，桀石以投人，禽之；而乘其車，繫桑本焉，以徇齊壘，曰：「欲勇者，賈余餘勇。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     齐高固入晋师，桀石以投人，禽之；而乘其车，系桑本焉，以徇齐垒，曰：「欲勇者，贾余余勇。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg

     Qí Gāo Gù rù Jìnshī, jié shí yǐ tóu rén, qín zhī; ér chéng qí chē, jì sāngběn yān, yǐ xùn Qí lěi, yuē: “Yù yǒng zhě, gǔ yú yúyǒng.” [Pinyin]

     Gao Gu of Qi entered the ranks of the Jin army, raised a stone and hurled it against a Jin man, took him captive; and then rode in his [the captive's] chariot, tying it to a mulberry trunk with its roots. He paraded around the Qi fortifications, saying, “Those who want valor can buy my surplus.”

5. Alternative form of 傑／杰 (jié, “outstanding; hero”)

   • 伯兮朅兮、邦之桀兮。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Bó xī qiè xī, bāng zhī jié xī. [Pinyin]

     My noble husband is how martial-like! The hero of the country!

Usage notes

Barnwell (2013) proposes that the 桀 (jié, “hero”) mentioned in Classic of Poetry "Airs of Wey - Bo Xi" was indeed Jié of Xià (夏桀).

Compounds

• 五桀
• 俊桀
• 傲桀
• 凶桀
• 助桀
• 助桀為惡／助桀为恶
• 助桀為暴／助桀为暴
• 助桀為虐／助桀为虐
• 口桀
• 喬桀／乔桀
• 夏桀 (Xiàjié)
• 大桀小桀
• 姦桀／奸桀
• 小桀
• 庶桀
• 暴桀
• 材桀
• 桀俊
• 桀健
• 桀傲
• 桀傲不恭
• 桀傲不馴／桀傲不驯
• 桀出
• 桀壁
• 桀士
• 桀奡
• 桀奴
• 桀宋
• 桀心
• 桀悍
• 桀惡／桀恶
• 桀慢
• 桀敖不馴／桀敖不驯
• 桀暴
• 桀木
• 桀桀
• 桔桀
• 桀橫／桀横
• 桀溺
• 桀然
• 桀犬
• 桀犬吠堯／桀犬吠尧
• 桀猾
• 桀異／桀异
• 桀畤
• 桀立
• 桀紂／桀纣 (jiézhòu)
• 桀虐
• 桀虜／桀虏
• 桀解
• 桀誖
• 桀豎／桀竖
• 桀貪驁詐／桀贪骜诈
• 桀賊／桀贼
• 桀起
• 桀跖
• 桀跱
• 桀逆
• 桀逆放恣
• 桀雄
• 桀駑／桀驽
• 桀駿／桀骏
• 桀驁／桀骜 (jié'ào)
• 桀驁不恭／桀骜不恭
• 桀驁不遜／桀骜不逊
• 桀驁不馴／桀骜不驯 (jié'àobùxùn)
• 桀驁自恃／桀骜自恃
• 桀驁難馴／桀骜难驯
• 桀黠
• 梟桀／枭桀
• 狡桀
• 秀桀
• 竦桀
• 英桀
• 豪桀 (háojié)
• 賢桀／贤桀
• 邦桀
• 陰桀／阴桀
• 雄桀
• 駿桀／骏桀
• 驍桀／骁桀
• 驕桀／骄桀
• 魁桀
• 黠桀

 

Etymology 2

trad.		桀
simp. #		桀
alternative forms		扴

Pronunciation

• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): ke̍h / ke̍eh

---

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ke̍h
    • Tâi-lô: ke̍h
    • Phofsit Daibuun: keh
    • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /keʔ⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /keʔ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /keʔ¹²¹/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ke̍eh
    • Tâi-lô: ke̍eh
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kɛʔ¹²¹/

Note:

• Zhangzhou:
  • ke̍eh - “to be not in harmony; to contradict; to get stuck”;
  • ke̍h - “to impede”.

Definitions

桀

1. (Hokkien) to be not in harmony; to be incompatible; to be contrary
2. (Hokkien) to impede; to obstruct; to hinder
3. (Mainland China and Philippine Hokkien) to get stuck; to wedge
4. (Mainland China Hokkien) to contradict (people)
5. (Xiamen Hokkien) hard to get along with others

Compounds

• 對桀／对桀
• 桀口話／桀口话
• 桀味
• 桀喙
• 桀目
• 桀耳
• 桀話／桀话
• 桀跤
• 桀館／桀馆
• 橫桀／横桀
• 相桀

 

Etymology 3

trad.		桀
simp. #		桀

Pronunciation

• Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): khe̍h / khe̍eh

---

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: khe̍h
    • Tâi-lô: khe̍h
    • Phofsit Daibuun: qeh
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kʰeʔ²⁴/
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kʰeʔ⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: khe̍eh
    • Tâi-lô: khe̍eh
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kʰɛʔ¹²¹/

Definitions

桀

1. (Hokkien) to have estrangement; to be in conflict with each other (often reduplicated)

   𪜶兩人桀桀。 [Hokkien, trad.]
   𪜶两人桀桀。 [Hokkien, simp.]

   In lióng lâng khe̍h khe̍h. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

   Both of them are in conflict with each other.

2. (Xiamen Hokkien) to hit something

   碗桀著壁。 [Hokkien, trad. and simp.]

   Óaⁿ khe̍h tio̍h piah. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]

   The bowl hit the wall.

3. (Quanzhou Hokkien) to have a crack (of a jar, vat, etc.)

Japanese

Kanji

桀

(Hyōgai kanji)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Readings

• On (unclassified): けつ (ketsu)
• Kun: はりつけ (haritsuke)

Korean

Hanja

桀 (eum 걸 (geol))

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Vietnamese

Han character

桀: Hán Nôm readings: kiệt

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.