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氐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
氐dīthe name of an ancient tribeg, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dīfoundationunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dīon the wholeunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dīname of an ancient tribeunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dǐthe name of an ancient tribeg, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dǐfoundationunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dǐon the wholeunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
氐dǐname of an ancient tribeunknown, 5 strokes, radical 氏
dī(Di1)di
primary
T1
  1. 1the name of an ancient tribe
  2. 2foundation
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March 24, 2026

氐dī(Di1)

The character 氐 (dī) refers to an ancient tribe in Chinese history, as well as the concept of foundation or basis. It can indicate a fundamental or underlying aspect, often used in historical or literary contexts to convey depth or origin.

Strokes5Radical氏
Cultural note

The 氐 tribe is part of China's rich history and is mentioned in classical texts, reflecting the complexity of ancient Chinese tribal societies. Understanding such terms can enhance your grasp of traditional narratives and historical studies in China.

Memory tip

Picture a deep foundation (氐) of a building, representing stability. The character combines 气 (air/energy) and the radical for 'earth' (土) to symbolize something that is grounded and essential, reminding you that the tribe is the basis of cultural heritage.

Meanings of 氐

dī(Di1)
primary
1the name of an ancient tribe
2foundation
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 氐

氐Simplified
5Strokes
氏Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 氐

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Podcast: 氐

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AI study notes for 氐

Usage Notes

氐 is not commonly used in modern conversation and is more relevant in historical or academic discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone must be accurate to convey the correct meaning. It can also appear in compound words, so familiarize yourself with its collocations.

HSK Study Tips

Although 氐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 or 4 with words related to history or foundations, such as 基础 (jīchǔ, foundation) and 族 (zú, tribe). Focus on understanding its historical context to deepen your comprehension of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 氐 with similar characters like 低 (dī, low) or 地 (dì, earth). Remember that 氐 specifically relates to historical contexts and foundations, not just any low or earth-related concept.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 氐

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Example

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Etymology of 氐

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

Depicts a man bowing down (氏) low to the ground.

Memory hint

clan

Semantic (meaning)氏
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 氐?

Decomposition of 氐

IDS Structure⿱氏丶
氐Full character
=
氏shi4
top
丶—
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 氐?

How to say the name of an ancient tribe in Chinese

“the name of an ancient tribe” in Chinese is氐dī

The character 氐 (dī) refers to an ancient tribe in Chinese history, as well as the concept of foundation or basis. It can indicate a fundamental or underlying aspect, often used in historical or literary contexts to convey depth or origin.

When to use 氐

氐 is not commonly used in modern conversation and is more relevant in historical or academic discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; the tone must be accurate to convey the correct meaning. It can also appear in compound words, so familiarize yourself with its collocations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 氐 with similar characters like 低 (dī, low) or 地 (dì, earth). Remember that 氐 specifically relates to historical contexts and foundations, not just any low or earth-related concept.

Write 氐

氐

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

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Grammar patterns of 氐

氐 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

今晚气温将下降到七摄____度.

The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.

Example sentences for 氐 (1)

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1
今晚气温将下降到七摄氐度.

jīn wǎn qìwēn jiāng xiàjiàng dào qī shè dī dù.

The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.

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Word Family of 氐

Words containing this character1
氐dīfoundation

Frequently asked questions about 氐

In modern contexts, 氐 is primarily of historical significance and not commonly used in daily conversation.

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