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歧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
歧qídivergentHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 止, rank #40191, Very Hard
歧qíside roadHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 止, rank #40191, Very Hard
歧qíto diverge, to fork; a branch; a side roadHSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 止, rank #40191, Very Hard
qí(qi2) T2
  1. 1divergent
  2. 2side road
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March 24, 2026
歧qí(qi2)

The character 歧 (qí) refers to something that diverges or forks, often used to describe roads or paths that split into different directions. It can also imply a choice or a branching point in discussions or decisions, highlighting the idea of divergence. In some contexts, it can carry a metaphorical sense of differing opinions or paths in life.

Strokes8Radical止Frequency#40191DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of diverging paths is often linked to the idea of life choices and destiny, reflecting the importance of making decisions that can lead to vastly different outcomes. This is often depicted in literature and philosophy, emphasizing the weight of choices.

Memory Tip

Imagine standing at a fork in the road, with one path leading to a 'key' (the sound of qí) and the other leading to a 'quirky' destination. The character 歧 looks like a person (the vertical line) standing at this fork, deciding which way to go. The divergence of paths represents the meaning of 'to diverge' or 'side road'.

Meanings of 歧

qí(qi2)
1divergent
2side road
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 歧

歧Simplified
8Strokes
止Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#40191Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 歧

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Podcast: 歧

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AI Study Notes for 歧

Quick Contrast

岔 (chà) - use 歧 when emphasizing the metaphorical aspect of divergence in choices or opinions, while 岔 is more commonly used for physical paths or roads.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine standing at a fork in the road, with one path leading to a 'key' (the sound of qí) and the other leading to a 'quirky' destination. The character 歧 looks like a person (the vertical line) standing at this fork, deciding which way to go. The divergence of paths represents the meaning of 'to diverge' or 'side road'.

Usage Notes

It's important to use 歧 in contexts where paths or opinions genuinely diverge, rather than in situations where there is a simple choice. The character is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual conversation. Be cautious with the tone; ensure the first tone is pronounced correctly to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While 歧 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your grasp of more complex phrases and idioms. Students should connect it with words related to choices or paths, like 路 (lù, road) and 分 (fēn, to divide). This will aid in contextualizing its use.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of diverging paths is often linked to the idea of life choices and destiny, reflecting the importance of making decisions that can lead to vastly different outcomes. This is often depicted in literature and philosophy, emphasizing the weight of choices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 歧 with similar-sounding words like 齐 (qí), which means 'together' or 'neat'. For instance, saying '我走在齐路上' (I am walking on a neat road) instead of '我走在歧路上' (I am walking on a divergent path) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 歧

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Etymology of 歧

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 止 represents the meaning and 支 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

stop

Semantic (meaning)止
+
Phonetic (sound)支
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 歧?

Decomposition of 歧

IDS Structure⿰止支
歧Full Character
=
止zhi3
left
支Zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 歧?

Write 歧

歧

Practice writing 歧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 歧

歧 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 3 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

三方将在下个月会面，以解决余下的分____。

The three parties will meet next month to work out remaining differences.

Example Sentences for 歧 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
三方将在下个月会面，以解决余下的分歧。

sān fāng jiāng zài xià gè yuè huì miàn， ， yǐ jiě jué yú xià de fēn。

The three parties will meet next month to work out remaining differences.
2
雇主以种族或国籍为由歧视员工是非法的。

gù zhǔ yǐ zhǒng zú huò guó jí wéi yóu qí shì yuán gōng shì fēi fǎ de。

Discrimination by employers on the grounds of race and nationality was illegal.
3
他们关注的是公开的歧视，而不是种族主义的一些潜在问题。

tā mén guān zhù de shì gōng kāi de qí shì， ， ér bù shì zhǒng zú zhǔ yì de yī xiē qián zài wèn。

They focus on overt discrimination rather than insidious aspects of racism.
4
我们就是在这一点上面临方法上的分歧。

wǒ mén jiù shì zài zhè yī diǎn shàng miàn lín fāng fǎ shàng de fēn qí。

It's here that we come up against the difference of approach.
5
这两个社群正在学着如何解决彼此之间的分歧。

zhè liǎng gè shè qún zhèng zài xué zháo rú hé jiě jué bǐ cǐ zhī jiān de fēn qí。

The two communities are learning how to resolve their differences.
6
亚裔英国人发起了一项呼吁消除种族歧视的运动。

yà yì yīng guó rén fā qǐ le yī xiàng hū xū xiāo chú zhǒng zú qí shì de yùn dòng。

British Asians have begun a campaign calling for an end to discrimination.
7
那就是你们的分歧所在。

nà jiù shì nǐ mén de fēn qí suǒ zài。

That's where you get some differences of opinion.
8
在后来的新闻发布会上，他说不应夸大分歧。

zài hòu lái de xīn wén fā bù huì shàng， ， tā shuō bù yīng kuā dà fēn。

At a later news conference, he said differences should not be dramatized.
9
主要是这一问题使她的内阁产生了分歧。

zhǔ yào shì zhè yī wèn tí shǐ tā de nèi gé chǎn shēng le fēn qí。

This issue, more than any other, has divided her cabinet.
10
两个邻国之间的争端和分歧应当通过双边途径解决。

liǎng gè lín guó zhī jiān de zhēng duān hé fēn qí yīng dāng tōng guò shuāng biān tú jìng jiě jué。

Disputes and differences between the two neighbours would be solved bilaterally.

Cultural Notes for 歧

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of diverging paths is often linked to the idea of life choices and destiny, reflecting the importance of making decisions that can lead to vastly different outcomes. This is often depicted in literature and philosophy, emphasizing the weight of choices.

Word Family of 歧

Words Containing This Character10
歧视qíshìdiscrimination歧視
分歧fēnqídivergent
种族歧视racism種族歧視
歧途fork in a road
误入歧途to go astray誤入歧途
歧qídivergent
歧义ambiguity歧義
歧路to diverge from the main road, also figuratively
歧见disagreement歧見
歧异difference歧異
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 歧视 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 歧

You can use 歧 to describe a situation where decisions lead to different outcomes, like '在这个问题上我们有不同的看法，真是一个歧路。' (On this issue, we have different opinions; it really is a fork in the road.)