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栖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
栖
qī
perch, roost, to stay
v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #19815, Very Hard
栖
qī
to perch
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #19815, Very Hard
栖
qī
to rest (of birds)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #19815, Very Hard
栖
qī
to dwell
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #19815, Very Hard
栖
qī
to live
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #19815, Very Hard
qī(qi1)qi T1
1perch, roost, to stay
2to perch
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March 24, 2026
栖(棲)qī(qi1)
The character '栖' (qī) refers to the act of birds resting or perching on branches. It can also mean to dwell or stay in a place for a period of time. In broader contexts, it symbolizes a sense of home or temporary residence.
Strokes10Radical木Frequency#19815DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, '栖' often evokes images of nature and tranquility, reflecting the traditional appreciation for harmony with the environment, as seen in poetry and art that celebrates birds perched in trees.
Memory tip
Imagine a bird (the radical '木' which means tree) perching on a branch (the character's form) while making a sound like 'qī'. Visualize this bird resting peacefully, reminding you of the word's meaning of to dwell or stay.
Meanings of 栖
qī(qi1)
1perch, roost, to stay
2to perch
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 栖 means.
About 栖
栖Simplified
棲Traditional
10Strokes
木Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 栖
Podcast: 栖
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AI study notes for 栖
Quick Contrast
栖 (qī) vs 停 (tíng) — use '栖' when referring specifically to birds resting or perching, while '停' is more general for stopping or halting any activity.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using '栖' in contexts where '住' (zhù, to live) would be more appropriate, such as referring to human habitation. This word is more poetic and often used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Although '栖' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, learners at an intermediate level can benefit from understanding it as it connects to themes of nature and living environments. Focus on the imagery of birds to solidify its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '栖' with '栖息' (qīxī, to rest or perch), using them interchangeably, when '栖' alone is sufficient. For example, saying '我栖息在树上' (Wǒ qīxī zài shù shàng, I perch on the tree) is redundant; simply saying '我栖在树上' (Wǒ qī zài shù shàng) suffices.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 栖
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 栖 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
栖 = 木 + 西. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 栖
IDS Structure⿰木西
栖Full character
=
木Mu4
left
西Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 栖?
How to say perch, roost, to stay in Chinese
“perch, roost, to stay” in Chinese is栖qī
The character '栖' (qī) refers to the act of birds resting or perching on branches. It can also mean to dwell or stay in a place for a period of time. In broader contexts, it symbolizes a sense of home or temporary residence.
When to use 栖
Common mistakes include using '栖' in contexts where '住' (zhù, to live) would be more appropriate, such as referring to human habitation. This word is more poetic and often used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.
栖 or something close to it
栖 (qī) vs 停 (tíng) — use '栖' when referring specifically to birds resting or perching, while '停' is more general for stopping or halting any activity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '栖' with '栖息' (qīxī, to rest or perch), using them interchangeably, when '栖' alone is sufficient. For example, saying '我栖息在树上' (Wǒ qīxī zài shù shàng, I perch on the tree) is redundant; simply saying '我栖在树上' (Wǒ qī zài shù shàng) suffices.
Write 栖
栖
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Practice writing 栖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 栖
栖 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 5 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.
鲣鸟____息在外海地区。
Gannets are denizens of the open ocean.
Example sentences for 栖 (9)
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1
鲣鸟栖息在外海地区。
jiān niǎo qī xī zài wài hǎi dìqū。
Gannets are denizens of the open ocean.
2
一只鸟栖息在树枝上.
yī zhī niǎo qī xī zài shùzhī shàng.
There was a bird sitting on the branch.
3
鸟栖息在一根大树枝上.
niǎo qī xī zài yī gēn dà shùzhī shàng.
The bird perched on a big branch.
4
鸟停歇在栖木上.
niǎo tíng xiē zài qī mù shàng.
The bird took its perch.
5
那些鸟栖在电视天线上.
nàxiē niǎo qī zài diànshì tiānxiàn shàng.
The birds perched upon the television aerial.
6
隆起在沼泽上的一系列又长又矮的山脊,是平原上唯一可以栖住的地方.
lōng qǐ zài zhǎozé shàng de yíxìliè yòu cháng yòu ǎi de shān jí, shì píngyuán shàng wéiyī kěyǐ qī zhù de dìfang.
Long low ridges which rise above the marsh form the only inhabitable areas on the plain.
7
洒出来的水会落到栖息架下而不会进入垫料.
sǎ chūlái de shuǐ huì là dào qī xī jià xià ér bù huì jìnrù diàn liào.
Spilled water also falls under the roosts rather than into the litter.
