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March 24, 2026
涕tì(ti4)
The character 涕 (tì) refers to tears or nasal mucus. It is often used in literary contexts or to describe emotional expressions involving crying. The nuance of this term can convey not just physical tears but also the emotional weight behind them.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#19746DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese poetry, tears (涕) are often used to express deep emotions and longing, reflecting the value placed on emotional expression in Chinese literature.
Memory Tip
Think of 涕 (tì) as a 'tear' drop that is made up of water (the water radical 水) flowing down, symbolizing sadness. Visualize a teardrop falling, connecting the shape of the character to its meaning and sound.
Meanings of 涕
tì(ti4)
1tears
2nasal mucus
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 涕
涕Simplified
10Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#19746Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涕
Podcast: 涕
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AI Study Notes for 涕
Quick Contrast
泪 (lèi) - use 涕 when emphasizing emotional or literary connotations, while 泪 is more straightforward for physical tears.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 涕 (tì) as a 'tear' drop that is made up of water (the water radical 水) flowing down, symbolizing sadness. Visualize a teardrop falling, connecting the shape of the character to its meaning and sound.
Usage Notes
This character is more commonly found in written Chinese, especially in poetry or formal language, rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse 涕 with similar-sounding characters; context is key in understanding meaning. Common collocations include 涕泪 (tìlèi), meaning tears and mucus together.
HSK Study Tips
Although 涕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to emotions and body functions, such as 哭 (kū, to cry) and 鼻子 (bízi, nose). Students should focus on recognizing its literary context.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese poetry, tears (涕) are often used to express deep emotions and longing, reflecting the value placed on emotional expression in Chinese literature.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 涕 with 泪 (lèi), which specifically means tears. For example, saying '我流了很多涕' can be misleading; it is more appropriate to use '泪' in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涕
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Grammar Patterns of 涕
涕 carries 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
感冒开始时通常会流鼻____、嗓子发干。
A cold usually starts with a streaming nose and dry throat.
Example Sentences for 涕 (6)
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1
感冒开始时通常会流鼻涕、嗓子发干。
gǎn mào kāi shǐ shí tōng cháng huì liú bí tì、 、 sǎng zǐ fā。
A cold usually starts with a streaming nose and dry throat.
2
蒂莫西正在哭泣，主要是因为太累了，而且他还流着鼻涕。
dì mò xī zhèng zài kū qì， ， zhǔ yào shì yīn wéi tài léi， le ， ér qiě tā huán liú zháo。
Timothy was crying, mostly from exhaustion, and his nose was running.
3
花粉热临床表现为流泪、流涕，眼睛、鼻子发痒。
huā fěn rè lín chuáng biǎo xiàn wéi liú lèi、 、 liú， tì ，、 yǎn jīng 、 bí。
When someone has hayfever, the eyes and nose will stream and itch.
Carlo leaned back , his face flushed with gratification.
5
她伸手拿纸巾擤鼻涕。
tā shēn shǒu ná zhǐ jīn xǐng bí tì。
She reached for a Kleenex and blew her nose.
6
她轻轻擦了几下眼睛，擤了擤鼻涕。
tā qīng qīng cā le jī xià yǎn jīng， ， xǐng le xǐng bí。
She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose.
Cultural Notes for 涕
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese poetry, tears (涕) are often used to express deep emotions and longing, reflecting the value placed on emotional expression in Chinese literature.
Word Family of 涕
Words Containing This Character14
鼻涕bítìsnivel
涕tìtears
痛哭流涕weeping bitter tears
流鼻涕to have a runny nose
感激涕零to shed tears of gratitude (idiom); moved to tears
破涕为笑to turn tears into laughter (idiom); to turn grief into happiness破涕為笑
擤鼻涕to blow one's nose
滴滴涕DDT (loanword)
涕泣to weep
涕零to weep
涕泪交流tears and mucus flowing profusely (idiom); weeping tragically涕淚交流
涕泗横流sniveling涕泗橫流
涕泗滂沱a flood of tears and mucus
涕泗纵横sniveling涕泗縱橫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鼻涕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 涕
You could say, '他流下了许多涕' (He shed many tears).
No, 涕 is more commonly found in written or poetic contexts rather than in spoken language.
Related words include 泪 (lèi, tears), which refers specifically to tears, and 鼻涕 (bítì, nasal mucus), which combines the characters for 'nose' and 'mucus'.
