unknown, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Very Hard
奎
kuí
15th of the 28th constellations of Chinese astronomy
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Very Hard
kuí(kui2) T2
1a man's stride; a constellation
2crotch
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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#9548DifficultyVery Hard
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
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AI Study Notes for 奎
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.
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
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Drill the tone of 奎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 大 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound.
1The meaning half大 carries the sense.
2The sound half圭 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaybig
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 奎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 奎?
Decomposition of 奎
IDS Structure⿱大圭
奎Full Character
=
大da4
top
圭gui1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 奎?
How to say a man's stride; a constellation in Chinese
“a man's stride; a constellation” in Chinese is奎kuí
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.
When to use 奎
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 奎
奎
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Practice writing 奎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
