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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 戚 means.
About 戚
戚Simplified
慼Traditional
11Strokes
戈Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#35135Frequency Rank
Podcast: 戚
Podcast: 戚
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AI study notes for 戚
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.
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
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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.
When to use 戚
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.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 戚
戚
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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 7 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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
Which one
Which one means “surname Qi”?
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 qīnqi zhùzài zhè tiáo mǎlù 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。
tāmen yǐwéi tāmen de qīnqi men huì bǎ qiānzhèng 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.
wǒmen quánjiā hé suǒyǒu de qīnqi dōu lái cānjiā zǔfù de bā shí suì shòu yàn.
All our family came to our grandfather's eightieth birthday party.
4
路易丝本人在尼姆有亲戚。
lù yì sī běnrén zài ní mǔ yǒu qīnqi。
Louise herself had family ties in Nimes.
5
她和Molinas一家人准备与亲戚一起过感恩节.
tā héMolinas yījiārén zhǔnbèi yǔ qīnqi yìqǐ guò gǎnēn jié.
She and the Molinas are going to spend Thanksgiving with their cousins.
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.
lìyòng qīnqi zì bǎo sī náng shì bù yīnggāi 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 qīnqi dùjià shí， wǒ juéde tā xīnlǐ suān suān de。
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.
lí lì shòubuliǎo qióng qīnqi men nà zhǒng qǐgài bān de kǔ rìzi.
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 qīnqi dōu dào tā jiā lái dùjià.
All his poor kinfolks came to spend their holidays at his home.
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Word Family of 戚
Compounds11
蹙cùto frown, to knit the brows; distressed
嘁qīashamed; grieving; onomatopoetic
槭qīmaple tree
搣miè
鏚qī
傶zú
墄cè
慽qī
摵shè
磩qì
縬cù
Words containing this character14
亲戚qīnqia relative (i.e. family relation)親戚
戚qīrelative
走亲戚zǒuqīnqito visit relatives走親戚
戚戚qīqīintimate
休戚相关xiūqīxiāngguānto be closely related休戚相關
戚继光qījìguāngQi Jiguang (1528-1588), military leader戚繼光
悲戚bēiqīmournful
皇亲国戚huángqīnguóqīthe emperor relatives (idiom); person with powerful connections皇親國戚
戚友qīyǒurelatives and friends
哀戚āiqīsorrow
戚墅堰qīshùyànQishu district of Changzhou city 常州市[Chángzhōushì], Jiangsu慼墅堰
戚墅堰区qīshùyànqūQishu district of Changzhou city 常州市[Chángzhōushì], Jiangsu慼墅堰區
戚谊qīyìrelation戚誼
自贻伊戚zìyíyīqīto create trouble for oneself (idiom)自貽伊戚
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 戚
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.
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