Meaning
即 is a formal, literary character with multiple related meanings centered around proximity and immediacy. Most commonly, it functions as a linking word meaning 'namely' or 'that is' to specify or clarify something just mentioned. It can also mean 'immediately' or express 'even if' in conditional constructions.
Usage
即 appears frequently in formal written Chinese, official documents, and academic contexts. In spoken Mandarin, speakers often prefer simpler alternatives like 也就是说 for 'that is' or 马上 for 'immediately'. The character is essential for understanding formal texts and appears in many set phrases and compound words.
Examples
- 01这个问题很复杂，即使专家也难以解决。, .This problem is very complex; even experts find it difficult to solve.
- 02我们公司有三个部门，即销售部、生产部和财务部。, , .Our company has three departments, namely the sales department, production department, and finance department.
Common collocations
- 即使...也.........even if...still...
- 即将about to, soon to
- 一触即发ready to explode at any moment
- 立即immediately
Origin
The character 即 originally depicted a person approaching food to eat, combining the radical for person with the radical for food. This ancient meaning of 'approaching' evolved into modern senses of immediacy and direct specification.