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March 24, 2026
岖(嶇)qū(qu1)
The character 岖 (qū) refers to steep or rugged terrain, often associated with rough landscapes such as mountains or cliffs. It can describe a difficult path or challenging geographical features. This term is commonly used in contexts related to nature, geography, and travel.
Strokes7Radical山Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rugged terrain often symbolizes challenges and obstacles that one must overcome, reflecting a common theme in literature and poetry that emphasizes resilience and fortitude.
Memory Tip
Imagine a steep mountain trail marked by the character 岖. The left part (山) looks like a mountain, while the right part (曲) suggests a winding path. Together, they create a vivid image of a rugged journey through steep terrain.
Meanings of 岖
qū(qu1)
1steep, sheer; rugged, rough
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 岖
岖Simplified
嶇Traditional
7Strokes
山Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 岖
Podcast: 岖
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AI Study Notes for 岖
Quick Contrast
崎 (qí) - use 岖 (qū) for steep or rugged terrain, while 崎 (qí) often refers to a narrow or winding path.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a steep mountain trail marked by the character 岖. The left part (山) looks like a mountain, while the right part (曲) suggests a winding path. Together, they create a vivid image of a rugged journey through steep terrain.
Usage Notes
Learners should be careful not to confuse 岖 with similar-looking characters that pertain to flat or smooth surfaces. This character is more formal and often used in literary or descriptive contexts, so it may not appear in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
As 岖 is not an HSK level character, focus on understanding its meaning in context with other terrain-related characters like 山 (mountain) and 陡 (steep). This will help in building vocabulary related to geography and nature.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rugged terrain often symbolizes challenges and obstacles that one must overcome, reflecting a common theme in literature and poetry that emphasizes resilience and fortitude.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 岖 with easier terrain-related characters like 平 (píng, flat) or 光滑 (guānghuá, smooth). A correct usage example is '这条路很岖' (This road is very rugged), not '这条路很平' (This road is very flat).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 岖
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Grammar Patterns of 岖
岖 carries one core meaning. 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 2
Complete the Sentence
铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄,成了一条崎____不平的小径.
The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.
Example Sentences for 岖 (2)
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1
铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄,成了一条崎岖不平的小径.
pū hǎo de kuān kuò dào lù jiàn jiàn biàn zhǎi, , chéng le yī tiáo qí qū bù píng de xiǎo.
The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.
2
这些崎岖不平的路很快就把摩托车轮胎磨平了.
zhè xiē qí qū bù píng de lù hěn kuài jiù bǎ mó tuō chē lún tāi mó píng le.
These rough roads soon wore the tread of motorcycle tires off.
Cultural Notes for 岖
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, rugged terrain often symbolizes challenges and obstacles that one must overcome, reflecting a common theme in literature and poetry that emphasizes resilience and fortitude.
Word Family of 岖
Words Containing This Character2
崎岖rugged崎嶇
岖qūrugged嶇
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 崎岖 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 岖
It is pronounced as qū, with a high level tone.
No, 岖 specifically refers to rugged or steep natural terrains, not urban environments.
Synonyms include 陡 (dǒu, steep) and 崎 (qí, rugged).
