15th of the 28th constellations of Chinese astronomy
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Hard
kuí(kui2) T2
1a man's stride; a constellation
2crotch
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
奎kuí(kui2)
The character 奎 (kuí) primarily refers to a man's stride or gait, symbolizing strength and assertiveness in movement. It also represents one of the constellations in Chinese astronomy, specifically the 15th of the 28 constellations used historically in navigation and astrology. This word can be encountered in both poetic and astronomical contexts.
Strokes9Radical大Frequency#9548DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the constellation represented by 奎 is part of traditional astrological systems, reflecting how celestial bodies influence earthly events. This connection emphasizes the historical significance of astronomy in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong man taking a confident stride (the meaning of 'kuí') while pointing to the night sky where the constellation 'kuí' shines brightly. The character 奎 is composed of the radical for 'woman' (女) and 'tall' (圭), suggesting a powerful figure.
Meanings of 奎
kuí(kui2)
1a man's stride; a constellation
2crotch
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 奎
奎Simplified
9Strokes
大Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 奎
Podcast: 奎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 奎
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong man taking a confident stride (the meaning of 'kuí') while pointing to the night sky where the constellation 'kuí' shines brightly. The character 奎 is composed of the radical for 'woman' (女) and 'tall' (圭), suggesting a powerful figure.
Usage Notes
This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for literary or scholarly contexts. Be cautious of mispronouncing it with the wrong tone, as it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 奎 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is good for learners to recognize characters related to astronomy, as they often appear in texts discussing Chinese culture and literature. Students should focus on understanding its various meanings and contexts to enhance vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the constellation represented by 奎 is part of traditional astrological systems, reflecting how celestial bodies influence earthly events. This connection emphasizes the historical significance of astronomy in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 奎 with similar-sounding characters, such as 魁 (kuí), which also relates to strength but has different meanings. Ensure you practice the correct tone and context to avoid miscommunication.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 奎
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 奎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 奎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 奎
奎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加____宁水的杜松子酒。
Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.
Example Sentences for 奎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
méi lì suō xiàng hē níng méng qì shuǐ yī yàng dà kǒu dì hē zháo jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zǐ jiǔ。
Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.
2
他正在大口喝着今天的第10杯加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
tā zhèng zài dà kǒu hē zháo jīn tiān de dì10 10 bēi jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zǐ。
He was knocking back his 10th gin and tonic of the day.
Quinn returned shortly after daylight yesterday morning.
8
马龙·白兰度、史蒂夫·麦奎因和詹姆斯·迪恩现在成了银幕上的的传奇人物。
mǎ lóng· · bái lán、 dù 、 shǐ· dì fū · mài kuí yīn hé· zhān mǔ sī · dí ēn xiàn zài chéng le yín mù shàng de de。
Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and James Dean are now legends of the silver screen.
9
为此行重新捡起西班牙语来的杰奎琳陪他一道去.
wéi cǐ háng zhòng xīn jiǎn qǐ xī bān yá yǔ lái de jié kuí lín péi tā yī dào qù.
Jacqueline , turning up her Spanish for the occasion, went with him.
10
奎瓦富是个正派人.
kuí wǎ fù shì gè zhèng pài rén.
Quiverful is an honorable man.
Cultural Notes for 奎
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the constellation represented by 奎 is part of traditional astrological systems, reflecting how celestial bodies influence earthly events. This connection emphasizes the historical significance of astronomy in Chinese society.
Word Family of 奎
Words Containing This Character7
奎kuícrotch
杰奎琳Jacqueline (name)傑奎琳
奎宁quinine (loanword)奎寧
奎屯Kuitun city or Küytun shehiri in Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture 伊犁哈薩克自治州|伊犁哈萨克自治州[YīlíHāsàkèzìzhìzhōu], Xinjiang
奎屯市Kuitun city or Küytun shehiri in Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture 伊犁哈薩克自治州|伊犁哈萨克自治州[YīlíHāsàkèzìzhìzhōu], Xinjiang
奎文区Kuiwen district of Weifang city 濰坊市|潍坊市[Wéifāngshì], Shandong奎文區
望奎县Wangkui county in Suihua 綏化|绥化, Heilongjiang望奎縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 奎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 奎
In astronomy, 奎 refers to one of the 28 constellations in traditional Chinese star maps, often associated with navigation.
No, 奎 is more commonly found in literary or academic contexts rather than in daily spoken Chinese.
The correct pronunciation is 'kuí' with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'way' but starting lower.
