Jǐ means crowded together, not much space. We usually use it when the area crowded and say “Yǒng Jǐ 擁擠.” So, Jǐ Jìn 擠勁 means the Jìn is closing or closed together. Any situation where our hands or arms are closed together is Jǐ Jìn, like the beginning of the movement Dān Biān 單鞭 – Single Whip, we twist and bring both palms together, this is Jǐ Jìn. Also in Liù Fēng Sì Bì 六封四閉 – Six Sealing and Four Closing, when we push out with two palms, this is Jǐ Jìn.
Àn means pressing down, like when we press a button. When we press a button, we say we Àn Chè 按掣 (Chè 掣 is a button). When we press something, we push out with a finger or a hand. In Tàijíquán 太極拳, Àn means the hands are separate or separating apart. This pairs with Jǐ Jìn which is closing together, as Àn Jìn is separating apart or opening. Again in Liù Fēng Sì Bì 六封四閉 – Six Sealing and Four Closing, before we push out with both palms, this is Àn Jìn. In Báihè Liàng Chì 白鶴亮翅 – White Crane Spreads it’s Wings the arms open out and so this is Àn Jìn.
So we can see that, when we use closing power, this is Jǐ Jìn and when we use opening, this is Àn Jìn. This is what we mean by Tàijí one closing, one opening.
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