jílì: 吉利 - Auspicious, Lucky, Favorable

Keywords: jili, 吉利, auspicious in Chinese, lucky in Chinese, Chinese good luck, jili meaning, what does jili mean, Geely Auto, lucky numbers in China, Chinese new year wishes, 大吉大利.

Summary: Learn the meaning of the essential Chinese word 吉利 (jílì), a core cultural concept that means “auspicious,” “lucky,” or “favorable.” This guide explores how 吉利 is deeply woven into Chinese culture, influencing everything from dates and numbers to business names, like the famous car brand Geely (吉利). Discover practical usage in modern China, key cultural insights, and example sentences to help you master this term and sound like a native speaker.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jílì

Part of Speech: Adjective

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: Pertaining to events, objects, numbers, or words that are believed to bring good luck, success, and prosperity.

In a Nutshell: 吉利 (jílì) is more than just “lucky.” It describes something that has a built-in, positive quality that signals or invites good fortune. Think of it as a positive omen or a favorable sign. While “luck” can be a random event, something that is 吉利 is chosen or used specifically *because* it is believed to lead to a positive outcome. It's a proactive way of engaging with fortune, not just passively hoping for it.

吉 (jí): This character means “lucky” or “auspicious.” Ancient forms depict a scholar's hat or a valuable object in a box, symbolizing good status, safety, and positive outcomes.

利 (lì): This character means “benefit,” “profit,” or “sharp.” Its original pictograph shows a knife (刀) harvesting grain (禾), representing a successful and profitable harvest.

When combined, 吉利 (jílì) literally means “lucky and beneficial.” It perfectly captures the idea that something is not just abstractly lucky, but will lead to tangible, positive results like prosperity, success, and smoothness.

Comparison to Western “Superstition”: While a Westerner might see choosing a “lucky number” as a personal superstition (like knocking on wood or avoiding black cats), the concept of 吉利 is a much more collective and socially integrated practice in China. It's not seen as an irrational belief but as a wise tradition for ensuring harmony and a good start. For example, paying extra for a license plate full of 8s is a public display of seeking good fortune, widely understood and respected by the community.

Wishes and Greetings: The most common phrase you'll hear, especially during Chinese New Year, is 大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì), meaning “great luck and great profit!”

Personal Life: People will go to great lengths to incorporate 吉利 elements into their lives, such as paying a premium for a phone number or an apartment on a “lucky” floor (e.g., the 8th, 18th, 28th floors).

Don't Describe People with 吉利: You cannot say a person is “吉利.” You describe things *related* to them as 吉利 (e.g., their name, their birthday), but the person themselves is 幸运 (xìngyùn) if good things happen to them.

大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì) - A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning “great luck and great profit,” used as a popular blessing.

吉祥 (jíxiáng) - A very close synonym for 吉利, also meaning “auspicious” or “propitious.” Often used in formal or literary contexts. A mascot is a 吉祥物 (jíxiángwù).

幸运 (xìngyùn) - The word for “lucky” by chance or fate. Understanding the difference between this and 吉利 is key.

福 (fú) - A broad and profound concept of “blessing,” “happiness,” and “good fortune.” 吉利 is one way to achieve or attract 福.

顺利 (shùnlì) - “Smooth,” “without a hitch.” People choose 吉利 dates and numbers hoping that their endeavor will go 顺利.

兆头 (zhàotou) - An “omen” or a “sign.” A crow crying might be a bad omen (坏兆头), while seeing a magpie could be a good omen (好兆头). A 吉利 number is a kind of permanent 好兆头.

发财 (fācái) - “To get rich” or “to make a fortune.” The pursuit of 吉利 is often strongly linked to the desire to 发财.

彩头 (cǎitóu) - A token of good luck. “讨个好彩头 (tǎo ge hǎo cǎitóu)” means to do something (like eating certain foods or winning a small game) to get a good start.