Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
碛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
碛qìgravel, sandg, 13 strokes, radical 石, rank #66722, Very Hard
碛qìmoraineunknown, 13 strokes, radical 石, rank #66722, Very Hard
碛qìrocks in shallow waterunknown, 13 strokes, radical 石, rank #66722, Very Hard
qì(qi4)qi T4
  1. 1gravel, sand
  2. 2moraine
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

碛(磧)qì(qi4)

The character 碛 (qì) refers to gravel or sand, often found in natural settings such as riverbeds or beaches. It can also denote a moraine, which is a mass of rocks and sediment deposited by a glacier. This term is typically used in scientific or geographical contexts.

Strokes13Radical石Frequency#66722DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese geography, understanding terms like 碛 is essential, particularly when discussing landscapes shaped by glacial movements, which are significant in certain regions of China. This character may appear in discussions about environmental studies or geological formations.

Memory tip

Imagine a river (the radical 石) filled with shiny gravel (the character's meaning). The 'qì' sound can be remembered by picturing a quiet stream where the gentle flow creates a soothing sound, resembling 'qi' in 'quiet.'

Meanings of 碛

qì(qi4)
1gravel, sand
2moraine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 碛 means.

About 碛

碛Simplified
磧Traditional
13Strokes
石Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 碛

JasonAmy

Podcast: 碛

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 碛

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 碛 is pronounced with a falling tone (qì), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in written contexts than in everyday conversation, so it's best to familiarize yourself with its usage in literature and geography.

HSK Study Tips

Although 碛 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it shares the radical 石 with other characters related to stones and minerals, like 石 (shí). Students should focus on the meanings of these related characters to expand their vocabulary in this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 碛 (qì) with 石 (shí), leading to misunderstandings in meaning. For instance, saying '我看到很多石' (wǒ kàn dào hěn duō shí) when intending to express seeing many gravel pieces is incorrect; it should be '我看到很多碛' (wǒ kàn dào hěn duō qì).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 碛

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 碛, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 碛 to you

Let me explain 碛 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 碛 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 碛?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 碛 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 碛

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

stone

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

Origin

碛 = 石 + 责. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 碛

IDS Structure⿰石责
碛Full character
=
石dan4
left
责ze2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 碛?

How to say gravel, sand in Chinese

“gravel, sand” in Chinese is碛qì

The character 碛 (qì) refers to gravel or sand, often found in natural settings such as riverbeds or beaches. It can also denote a moraine, which is a mass of rocks and sediment deposited by a glacier. This term is typically used in scientific or geographical contexts.

When to use 碛

Be cautious with the tone; 碛 is pronounced with a falling tone (qì), which can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is more commonly used in written contexts than in everyday conversation, so it's best to familiarize yourself with its usage in literature and geography.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 碛 (qì) with 石 (shí), leading to misunderstandings in meaning. For instance, saying '我看到很多石' (wǒ kàn dào hěn duō shí) when intending to express seeing many gravel pieces is incorrect; it should be '我看到很多碛' (wǒ kàn dào hěn duō qì).

Write 碛

碛

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 碛?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 碛

Words containing this character2
碛qìmoraine磧
沙碛sandy shore沙磧
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 碛

What does 沙碛 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 碛

While 碛 is not commonly used in phrases, it can appear in geological discussions or texts related to nature.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 碛?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab