unknown, 11 strokes, radical 戈, rank #35135, Very Hard
qī(qi1) T1
1grief
2sorrow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
戚(慼)qī(qi1)
The character 戚 (qī) primarily refers to grief or sorrow, often associated with feelings of loss. It can also denote a familial relationship, such as a relative or parent, and is used in various contexts to express emotional states tied to loss or familial connections.
Strokes11Radical戈Frequency#35135DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, expressions of grief are significant, especially during mourning periods. The character 戚 reflects the cultural importance placed on familial relationships and the sorrow associated with loss.
Memory Tip
Think of 戚 as a sad face with a battle-axe (the top part looks like a person with a heavy heart, and the bottom resembles a weapon). To remember its pronunciation, think of 'Qi' being a cry of grief when one loses a relative.
Meanings of 戚
qī(qi1)
1grief
2sorrow
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 戚
戚Simplified
慼Traditional
11Strokes
戈Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#35135Frequency Rank
Podcast: 戚
Podcast: 戚
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 戚
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 戚 as a sad face with a battle-axe (the top part looks like a person with a heavy heart, and the bottom resembles a weapon). To remember its pronunciation, think of 'Qi' being a cry of grief when one loses a relative.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 戚 (grief) with similar-sounding characters that carry different meanings. It's important to use 戚 in contexts relating to sorrow or family ties. Additionally, it is more formal, so in casual conversations, alternatives might be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
Though not included in HSK levels, understanding 戚 can enrich vocabulary related to emotions and relationships. Students at HSK 3 might encounter similar emotional words, making it useful to compare usages.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, expressions of grief are significant, especially during mourning periods. The character 戚 reflects the cultural importance placed on familial relationships and the sorrow associated with loss.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 戚 with the character 怒 (nù, anger), leading to sentences like '我很戚' (I am very grief), which is incorrect. The correct expression should convey grief in context, such as '我很伤心' (I am very sad).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 戚
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 戚 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 戚 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 戚
戚 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 8 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
他有个亲____住在这条马路上。
He had a relation who lived up the road.
Common Confusions with 戚
戚vs亲
qīn
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
戚vs切
qiē
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "grief"?
or
Example Sentences for 戚 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他有个亲戚住在这条马路上。
tā yǒu gè qīn qī zhù zài zhè tiáo mǎ lù shàng。
He had a relation who lived up the road.
2
他们以为他们的亲戚们会把签证办好。
tā mén yǐ wéi tā mén de qīn qī mén huì bǎ qiān zhèng bàn hǎo。
They thought that their relatives would be able to fix the visas.
3
我们全家和所有的亲戚都来参加祖父的八十岁寿宴.
wǒ mén quán jiā hé suǒ yǒu de qīn qī dū lái cān jiā zǔ fù de bā shí suì shòu yàn.
All our family came to our grandfather's eightieth birthday party.
I scraped by borrowing from my relations until my next check arrived.
7
利用亲戚自饱私囊是不应该的.
lì yòng qīn qī zì bǎo sī náng shì bù yīng gāi de.
It is not fair to batten on one's relatives.
8
她谈起她的亲戚度假时，我觉得她心里酸酸的。
tā tán qǐ tā de qīn qī dù jiǎ shí， ， wǒ jué dé tā xīn lǐ suān suān。
I sensed her wistfulness when she talked about vacations her relatives took.
9
丽莉受不了穷亲戚们那种乞丐般的苦日子.
lì lì shòu bù le qióng qīn qī mén nà zhǒng qǐ gài bān de kǔ rì zǐ.
Lily had no mind for the vagabond life of the poor relation.
10
他的穷亲戚都到他家来度假.
tā de qióng qīn qī dū dào tā jiā lái dù jiǎ.
All his poor kinfolks came to spend their holidays at his home.
Cultural Notes for 戚
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, expressions of grief are significant, especially during mourning periods. The character 戚 reflects the cultural importance placed on familial relationships and the sorrow associated with loss.
Word Family of 戚
Compounds11
蹙cu4to frown, to knit the brows; distressed
嘁qi1ashamed; grieving; onomatopoetic
槭qi1maple tree
搣
鏚
傶
墄
慽
摵
磩
縬
Words Containing This Character14
亲戚qīnqia relative (i.e. family relation)親戚
戚qīrelative
走亲戚to visit relatives走親戚
戚戚intimate
休戚相关to be closely related休戚相關
戚继光Qi Jiguang (1528-1588), military leader戚繼光
悲戚mournful
皇亲国戚the emperor relatives (idiom); person with powerful connections皇親國戚
戚友relatives and friends
哀戚sorrow
戚墅堰Qishu district of Changzhou city 常州市[Chángzhōushì], Jiangsu慼墅堰
戚墅堰区Qishu district of Changzhou city 常州市[Chángzhōushì], Jiangsu慼墅堰區
戚谊relation戚誼
自贻伊戚to create trouble for oneself (idiom)自貽伊戚
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蹙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 戚
戚 (qī) is often compared to other characters that express sorrow or emotional pain. For instance, characters like 悲 (bēi) also convey sadness but can have different connotations. It's essential to understand these differences for effective communication.
You can use 戚 (qī) in sentences that express sorrow or grief, such as '他的心中充满了戚' (tā de xīn zhōng chōngmǎnle qī), meaning 'His heart is filled with grief'. It’s important to note the context in which you use it, as it carries a deep emotional weight.
戚 (qī) primarily means 'grief' or 'sorrow'. It can also refer to a battle-axe or a variant usage in different contexts. Understanding its meanings can help in grasping the emotional nuances in Chinese literature.
It's more formal and often used in writing or serious discussions about loss rather than casual speech.
Connect 'qī' with the sound of a sigh or cry that accompanies grief.
