HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #36467, Very Hard
沏
qī
to steep (tea)
HSK 7, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, rank #36467, Very Hard
qī(qi1) T1
1to infuse
2to steep (tea)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
沏qī(qi1)
The character 沏 refers to the process of infusing or steeping tea, where hot water is poured over tea leaves to extract flavor and aroma. This term is commonly used in contexts involving tea preparation, particularly in traditional Chinese tea culture. It emphasizes the careful and artful approach to making tea.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#36467DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 沏茶 is not just about making tea but is often a social ritual that reflects hospitality and respect. It is common during gatherings or family events, emphasizing the importance of tea in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a kettle (representing water) pouring over a tea leaf, and the sound of 'qī' as a gentle whisper of steam rising. The water (氵) flows to merge with the tea (七) leaves, creating a perfect cup. Visualize the scene with warm colors and the aroma of tea to remember '沏'.
Meanings of 沏
qī(qi1)
1to infuse
2to steep (tea)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 沏
沏Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 沏
Podcast: 沏
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 沏
Quick Contrast
泡 (pào) - use 泡 when referring to brewing or soaking, especially with a broader context beyond just tea; 沏 specifically emphasizes the tea infusion process.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a kettle (representing water) pouring over a tea leaf, and the sound of 'qī' as a gentle whisper of steam rising. The water (氵) flows to merge with the tea (七) leaves, creating a perfect cup. Visualize the scene with warm colors and the aroma of tea to remember '沏'.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 沏 with 泡 (pào), which also means to steep but can be used for other beverages. 沏 is typically used in a more formal context when discussing tea. It's also important to note that 沏 is often used with specific tea types, such as '沏绿茶' (qī lǜchá) for green tea.
HSK Study Tips
While 沏 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to food and drink, particularly tea-related terms. Focus on practicing its usage in sentences about tea preparation to better grasp its context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 沏茶 is not just about making tea but is often a social ritual that reflects hospitality and respect. It is common during gatherings or family events, emphasizing the importance of tea in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 沏 when referring to making coffee, leading to sentences like '我沏咖啡' (I infuse coffee), which should be corrected to '我泡咖啡' (I brew coffee).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沏
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 沏 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 沏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 沏
沏 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 2 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 5
Complete the Sentence
他开始在画廊做扫地____茶的工作。
He started working for a gallery sweeping up and making the tea.
Example Sentences for 沏 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他开始在画廊做扫地沏茶的工作。
tā kāi shǐ zài huà láng zuò sǎo dì qī chá de gōng zuò。
He started working for a gallery sweeping up and making the tea.
2
他们给我沏了不太好的茶, 我没法喝.
tā mén gěi wǒ qī le bù tài hǎo de chá, , wǒ méi fǎ.
They made me tea of a kind, but I couldn't drink it.
3
好吧，我来烧壶水，我们沏点茶喝。
hǎo bā， ， wǒ lái shāo hú， shuǐ ， wǒ mén qī diǎn。
Well then, I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea.
4
我们总是在11点沏茶。
wǒ mén zǒng shì zài11 11 diǎn qī。
We always have a brew-up at 11 o'clock.
5
我要烧壶水沏茶，或者煮些咖啡。
wǒ yào shāo hú shuǐ qī chá， ， huò zhě zhǔ xiē kā。
I'll put on the kettle for tea. Or boil up some coffee.
6
要我按铃叫一壶新沏的茶水吗？
yào wǒ àn líng jiào yī hú xīn qī de chá shuǐ ma？
Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea?
7
喂，朱莉娅，亲爱的，来客人了。沏点茶好吗？
wèi， ， zhū lì， yà ， qīn， ài de ， lái。 kè rén le 。 qī？
Ah, Julia, my dear, here is our guest. May we have some tea?
8
我会让文纳沏些茶。
wǒ huì ràng wén nà qī xiē chá。
I'll get Venner to brew some tea.
9
把沏好的茶再闷一会儿.
bǎ qī hǎo de chá zài mèn yī huì ér.
Let the tea stand a while to draw flavour.
10
她给我们沏了茶.
tā gěi wǒ mén qī le chá.
She brewed us some tea.
Cultural Notes for 沏
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of 沏茶 is not just about making tea but is often a social ritual that reflects hospitality and respect. It is common during gatherings or family events, emphasizing the importance of tea in social interactions.
Word Family of 沏
Words Containing This Character1
沏qīto steep (tea)
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 沏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沏
沏 specifically refers to infusing tea, while 泡 can apply to steeping various beverages, including coffee.
No, 沏 is primarily used for tea; for other drinks, 泡 is more appropriate.
