Chinese character for calm: 静 (jìng)
The Chinese character for calm is 静 (jìng). It means calm, quiet and still, and appears in 安静 (ānjìng, quiet) and 冷静 (lěngjìng, calm, composed). It is often used for inner calm and serenity.
How 静 is built
静 has 青 (qīng) on the left and 争 (zhēng, to struggle) on the right. In the traditional form 靜, the right side is written 爭. As a memory aid, think of 青 as clear blue-green like still water, and of calm as the moment when struggle settles into clarity. 青 is also linked to the sound. The character is common in names and in words for peaceful places.
静 jìng · quiet
- 青qīng — nature's color
- 龶 — top part
- 月yuè — moon; month
- 冂 — frame
- 二 — two strokes
- 争zhēng — to dispute
- ⺈ — top shape
- 彐jì — snout
- 二 — two strokes
- 亅 — hook
Origin hint: 青 gives the meaning, 争 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
How 静 is used
Other ways to say calm
- 宁静 níngjìng — tranquil, serene
- 平静 píngjìng — calm, peaceful (mood or sea)
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: The simplified 静 and traditional 靜 differ only in the right part, so confirm the form with your artist; 宁静 reads as 'serenity'.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for calm?
静 (jìng) means “calm”. In traditional characters it is written 靜.
How do you pronounce 静?
静 is pronounced jìng.
Is 静 simplified or traditional?
静 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore; 靜 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.