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啻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
啻chìonly, merely, just; to stop atg, 12 strokes, radical 口
啻chìonly (classical, usually follows negative or question words)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
啻chì(not) justunknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
chì(chi4)chi T4
  1. 1only, merely, just; to stop at
  2. 2only (classical, usually follows negative or question words)
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March 24, 2026

啻chì(chi4)

The character 啻 (chì) is used to convey the meaning of 'only' or 'merely'. It often appears in classical Chinese, typically following negative or interrogative words, emphasizing a limitation or exclusivity in a statement. In modern usage, it can express a sense of 'just' or 'to stop at' something.

Strokes12Radical口
Cultural note

啻 reflects the traditional Chinese emphasis on subtlety and precision in language, often found in classical poetry and literature where every word carries significant weight. Its usage illustrates the value placed on concise expression in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a bird making a sound 'chì' as it stops to perch on a branch, emphasizing that it is only resting there for a moment. The character itself combines a mouth (口) and a sound (也), symbolizing the idea of expressing something limited through speech.

Meanings of 啻

chì(chi4)
1only, merely, just; to stop at
2only (classical, usually follows negative or question words)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 啻 means.

About 啻

啻Simplified
12Strokes
口Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 啻

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Podcast: 啻

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AI study notes for 啻

Quick Contrast

仅 (jǐn) — use 啻 (chì) when emphasizing a limitation in a classical context, while 仅 (jǐn) is more common in modern usage for 'only'.

Usage Notes

啻 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar words like 只 (zhǐ), which also means 'only' but is more commonly used in spoken language. Be cautious with its tone and context to avoid sounding overly formal.

HSK Study Tips

As 啻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students should focus on its usage within classical texts or literary contexts. Understanding this character can enhance comprehension of classical literature, which often employs nuanced expressions of limitation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 啻 in informal contexts where 只 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我啻想去' instead of '我只想去' (I only want to go). Additionally, misplacing tones can lead to misunderstandings, as 啻 requires a falling tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 啻

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Etymology of 啻

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 帝 represents the sound.

Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)帝
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

啻 = 口 + 帝. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 啻

IDS Structure⿱帝口
啻Full character
=
帝di4
top
口kou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 啻?

How to say only, merely, just; to stop at in Chinese

“only, merely, just; to stop at” in Chinese is啻chì

The character 啻 (chì) is used to convey the meaning of 'only' or 'merely'. It often appears in classical Chinese, typically following negative or interrogative words, emphasizing a limitation or exclusivity in a statement. In modern usage, it can express a sense of 'just' or 'to stop at' something.

When to use 啻

啻 is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar words like 只 (zhǐ), which also means 'only' but is more commonly used in spoken language. Be cautious with its tone and context to avoid sounding overly formal.

啻 or something close to it

仅 (jǐn) — use 啻 (chì) when emphasizing a limitation in a classical context, while 仅 (jǐn) is more common in modern usage for 'only'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 啻 in informal contexts where 只 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我啻想去' instead of '我只想去' (I only want to go). Additionally, misplacing tones can lead to misunderstandings, as 啻 requires a falling tone.

Write 啻

啻

Practice writing 啻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 啻

啻 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

毕业税具体操作起来不____一场行政噩梦。

In practice a graduate tax is an administrative nightmare.

Example sentences for 啻 (1)

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1
毕业税具体操作起来不啻一场行政噩梦。

bìyè shuì jùtǐ cāozuò qǐlái bù chì yī chǎng xíngzhèng è mèng。

In practice a graduate tax is an administrative nightmare.

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Word Family of 啻

Words containing this character3
不啻búchìjust as
啻chì(not) just
何啻héchìnot limited to
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 啻

What does 不啻 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 啻

For example, you can say '他啻是个学生' (tā chì shì gè xuéshēng), meaning 'He is only a student.' It emphasizes that he is solely identified as a student.

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