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岐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to diverge, to branch; the name of a mountainzg, 7 strokes, radical 山, rank #28295, Hard
surname Qiunknown, 7 strokes, radical 山, rank #28295, Hard
also used in place namesunknown, 7 strokes, radical 山, rank #28295, Hard
(Qi2) T2
  1. 1to diverge, to branch; the name of a mountain
  2. 2also used in place names
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(Qi2)

The character 岐 (qí) primarily means 'to diverge' or 'to branch,' often used in contexts describing roads or paths that split apart. It can also refer to the name of a mountain, or be used as a surname, particularly in certain regions of China. This character is commonly found in place names, indicating geographical features.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#28295DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The character 岐 is associated with several mountains in China, which often hold cultural significance, such as being sites for spiritual practices or historical events. For example, Qishan Mountain is linked to various legends and is a popular destination for tourists.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tree with branches that diverge into two paths, representing 岐 (qí). The radical 岗 (mountain) hints at its connection to the name of a mountain, while the sound 'qí' can remind you of 'key,' as in the key to understanding branching paths.

Meanings of 岐

(Qi2)
1to diverge, to branch; the name of a mountain
2also used in place names
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 岐

Simplified
7Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 岐

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 岐

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tree with branches that diverge into two paths, representing 岐 (qí). The radical 岗 (mountain) hints at its connection to the name of a mountain, while the sound 'qí' can remind you of 'key,' as in the key to understanding branching paths.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 岐 with similar-sounding characters. It's used more in literary or geographical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include 岐路 (divergent paths) and 岐山 (Qishan Mountain).

HSK Study Tips

While 岐 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, studying it can enhance understanding of place names and geographical terms you might encounter. Focus on recognizing it in context and differentiating it from phonetically similar characters.

Cultural Note

The character 岐 is associated with several mountains in China, which often hold cultural significance, such as being sites for spiritual practices or historical events. For example, Qishan Mountain is linked to various legends and is a popular destination for tourists.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly pronounce 岐 as 'jī' instead of 'qí', confusing it with other characters. It's important to remember the rising tone to convey the correct meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 岐

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Etymology of 岐

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

Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 支 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mountain

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 岐?

Decomposition of 岐

IDS Structure⿰山支
Full Character
=
Shan1
left
Zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 岐?

Write 岐

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 岐

🏮Cultural insight

The character 岐 is associated with several mountains in China, which often hold cultural significance, such as being sites for spiritual practices or historical events. For example, Qishan Mountain is linked to various legends and is a popular destination for tourists.

Word Family of 岐

Words Containing This Character6
surname Qi
王岐山Wang Qishan (1948-), PRC politician
岐山Qishan County in Baoji 寶雞|宝鸡[Bǎo​jī], Shaanxi
岐山县Qishan County in Baoji 寶雞|宝鸡[Bǎo​jī], Shaanxi岐山縣
岐阜县Gifu prefecture, Japan岐阜縣
赵岐Zhao Qi (-201 BC), early Han commentator on Mencius 孟子[Mèng​zǐ]趙岐
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 岐 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 岐

Common phrases include 岐路 (qí lù) meaning 'divergent paths' and 岐山 (qí shān) referring to Qishan Mountain.