集
jí
The Chinese word for episode is 集 (jí).
The word 集 is used to refer to an installment of a drama or a series. You can use related phrases such as 上一集 for 'last episode' and 下一集 for 'next episode'. To express the idea of 'every episode' or 'each episode', use 每一集.
Meaning: instalment of a drama told in parts (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, spoken in Guangdong Province, the term for episode is commonly expressed as 集.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a particular episode number, use the pattern 第 + number + 集. For example, if you want to say 'the 21st episode', you would use 第21集.
How do you pronounce it?
jí
Did you know?
- The linguistic root of 集 may actually be related to the Khmer word ជួប (cuəp), which means 'to meet'.
- While 集 refers to the episode, Chinese uses a different word 季 for 'season' of a show, mirroring the agricultural cycle of seasons.
- Beyond television, 集 is used as a measure word for collections of poems or traditional literary anthologies.
Examples in context
- 我只看過第一集。I've only seen the first episode.This sentence is useful for noting that you have only seen the first 集.Tatoeba #13233565 by LeviHighway, translation #13233554 by araneo
- 這讓我想起一集《海綿寶寶》。That reminds me of a Spongebob episode.This sentence is useful for relating something to a specific 集 of Spongebob.Tatoeba #13111762 by LeviHighway, translation #8054845 by OsoHombre
- 但是说真的，第21集让我笑得眼泪都要出来了。Seriously though, episode 21 made me almost cry while laughing.This sentence is useful for expressing how much a specific 集 made you laugh.Tatoeba #335043 by fucongcong, translation #1454 by wuiwie
- 第一集 (dì yī jí)Episode 1
- 第十回 (dì shí huí)Episode 10
- 第三集 (dì sān jí)Episode 3
- 二十集 (èr shí jí)Episode 20
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a drama series at a cafe.
- 伟 Wei這部劇播到第十集了嗎？Zhè bù jù bō dào dì shí jí le ma?Has this drama aired up to episode ten?
- 雨婷 Yuting還沒，今天才播第五集。Hái méi, jīntiān cái bō dì wǔ jí.Not yet, only episode five aired today.
- 伟 Wei那我也要等著看。Nà wǒ yě yào děng zhe kàn.Then I'll wait to watch it too.
- 雨婷 Yuting好啊，下次一起看吧。Hǎo a, xià cì yīqǐ kàn ba.Okay, let's watch it together next time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “episode” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 集, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
