Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
喟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
喟kuìheave sigh, sighg, 12 strokes, radical 口
喟kuìto sighunknown, 12 strokes, radical 口
kuì(kui4)kui T4
  1. 1heave sigh, sigh
  2. 2to sigh
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

喟kuì(kui4)

The character 喟 (kuì) means to heave a sigh or to express a deep emotional feeling through a sigh. It is often used to convey feelings of sadness, disappointment, or nostalgia, typically in a poetic or literary context. This word can also imply a sense of longing or regret.

Strokes12Radical口
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing emotions through sighs can signify deep contemplation or reflection, often seen in traditional poetry and storytelling. 喟 embodies the cultural value of introspection and emotional expression.

Memory tip

Imagine a person who is so overwhelmed by their emotions that they let out a loud sigh, making the sound 'kuì' as they release their feelings. The character itself resembles a mouth (口) making a sighing sound, emphasizing the act of expressing emotions verbally.

Meanings of 喟

kuì(kui4)
1heave sigh, sigh
2to sigh
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 喟 means.

About 喟

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

Podcast: 喟

JasonAmy

Podcast: 喟

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 喟

Usage Notes

喟 is often used in literary contexts and may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Be cautious with the tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone (kuì). Common collocations include phrases related to expressing emotions or reflections.

HSK Study Tips

Although 喟 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can provide context when learning about emotional expressions in Chinese literature. Focus on understanding its usage in poems or stories to better appreciate its nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 喟 with more common sighing words like 叹 (tàn) or 呜 (wū). For example, saying '我喟了一口' (I sighed) is correct, but using '我叹了喟' (I sighed with kuì) is incorrect; 叹 and 喟 should not be mixed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 喟

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 喟, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 喟 to you

Let me explain 喟 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 喟 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 喟?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 喟 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 喟

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

mouth

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

Origin

喟 = 口 + 胃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 喟

IDS Structure⿰口胃
喟Full character
=
口kou3
left
胃wei4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 喟?

How to say heave sigh, sigh in Chinese

“heave sigh, sigh” in Chinese is喟kuì

The character 喟 (kuì) means to heave a sigh or to express a deep emotional feeling through a sigh. It is often used to convey feelings of sadness, disappointment, or nostalgia, typically in a poetic or literary context. This word can also imply a sense of longing or regret.

When to use 喟

喟 is often used in literary contexts and may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Be cautious with the tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone (kuì). Common collocations include phrases related to expressing emotions or reflections.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 喟 with more common sighing words like 叹 (tàn) or 呜 (wū). For example, saying '我喟了一口' (I sighed) is correct, but using '我叹了喟' (I sighed with kuì) is incorrect; 叹 and 喟 should not be mixed.

Write 喟

喟

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 喟?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 喟

Words containing this character2
喟kuìto sigh
感喟gǎnkuìsighing with emotion
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 喟

What does 感喟 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 喟

喟 specifically conveys a deeper emotional sigh, often associated with sadness or longing, while other words may just indicate a casual sigh.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 喟?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab