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March 24, 2026
携(㩗)xié(xie2)
The character 携 (xié) means 'to carry', 'to take along', or 'to hold hands'. It is often used to describe the action of bringing someone or something with you, emphasizing companionship and support. This character can also imply a sense of cooperation or unity when referring to people.
Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#10865DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of holding hands signifies a close relationship, whether between family members, friends, or romantic partners. This gesture is often seen as a symbol of support and unity in social settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of hands (the radical 扌) gently carrying a friend in a warm embrace. The pronunciation 'xié' sounds like 'share', illustrating the idea of sharing a journey or experience together.
Meanings of 携
xié(xie2)
1to carry
2to take along
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 携
携Simplified
㩗Traditional
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10865Frequency Rank
Podcast: 携
Podcast: 携
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AI Study Notes for 携
Quick Contrast
携 (xié) vs 带 (dài) — use 携 when emphasizing companionship or support, while 带 focuses on the act of bringing or carrying something.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of hands (the radical 扌) gently carrying a friend in a warm embrace. The pronunciation 'xié' sounds like 'share', illustrating the idea of sharing a journey or experience together.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 携 (xié) with similar-sounding characters like 些 (xiē), which means 'some' or 'few'. This character is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as in written Chinese or in literature. Common collocations include 携手 (xié shǒu) meaning 'to hold hands'.
HSK Study Tips
While 携 is not included in the HSK levels, its usage aligns with words learned in HSK 3 and 4, which focus on everyday activities and relationships. Students should practice its pronunciation and recognize its connection to similar verbs involving movement and companionship.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of holding hands signifies a close relationship, whether between family members, friends, or romantic partners. This gesture is often seen as a symbol of support and unity in social settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 携 (xié) with its informal counterpart 牵 (qiān), which also means 'to hold' but is more commonly used in everyday speech. For example, saying '我携手她' (Wǒ xié shǒu tā) is less common than '我牵着她的手' (Wǒ qiān zhe tā de shǒu).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 携
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Grammar Patterns of 携
携 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 10 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.
The camcorder winds the tape back or forward at high speed.
Cultural Notes for 携
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of holding hands signifies a close relationship, whether between family members, friends, or romantic partners. This gesture is often seen as a symbol of support and unity in social settings.
Word Family of 携
Words Containing This Character10
携带xiédàito support (old)攜帶
携xiéto carry攜
携手xiéshǒuhand in hand攜手
便携式portable便攜式
便携portable便攜
提携to guide提攜
携带者(medicine) carrier (of a recessive gene, virus etc)攜帶者
扶老携幼taking everyone along, young and old扶老攜幼
携手并肩hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder攜手並肩
携家带口tied down by family obligations攜家帶口
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 携带 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 携
Both characters have the same pronunciation and meaning, but 携 is the more modern form, while 攜 is an older variant that is less commonly used in contemporary Chinese.
You can say '我携带了我的书' (Wǒ xié dài le wǒ de shū), meaning 'I brought along my book'.
Yes, although it is more often found in written or formal contexts, you can still use it in spoken Chinese, especially when discussing travel or relationships.