unknown, 8 strokes, radical 礻, rank #19948, Very Hard
祈
qí
to request
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 礻, rank #19948, Very Hard
qí(qi2) T2
1to pray, to entreat, to beseech
2to implore
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March 24, 2026
祈qí(qi2)
The character 祈 (qí) means 'to pray' or 'to beseech.' It is commonly used in both religious and secular contexts where one may ask for help, guidance, or favor from a higher power or authority. This word conveys a sense of earnestness and humility in the act of requesting assistance.
Strokes8Radical礻Frequency#19948DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, prayer is often a communal activity, especially during festivals and important life events. The act of 祈 is not just personal but can involve family and community, reflecting the collective nature of Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person kneeling with hands clasped together in prayer, with the character 祈 appearing above them like a blessing. The radical 示 (shì) suggests 'to show' or 'to express,' connecting the act of praying to the expression of one's desires or needs.
Meanings of 祈
qí(qi2)
1to pray, to entreat, to beseech
2to implore
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 祈
祈Simplified
8Strokes
礻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 祈
Podcast: 祈
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AI Study Notes for 祈
Quick Contrast
祷 (dǎo) — use 祈 (qí) for a more personal or earnest request, while 祷 (dǎo) often refers to formal prayers.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 祈 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 期 (qī), which means 'to expect.' 祈 is often used in more formal or solemn contexts, especially in religious settings, so it is best avoided in casual conversations. Common collocations include 祈祷 (qídǎo, to pray) and 祈愿 (qíyuàn, to make a wish).
HSK Study Tips
Though 祈 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to themes of asking and hoping, which are common in Level 3 and 4 vocabulary. Students should practice its pronunciation and common phrases involving requests to strengthen their understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 祈 with 期 (qī), leading to sentences like '我期好运' (Wǒ qī hǎo yùn), which is incorrect. The correct usage is '我祈求好运' (Wǒ qíqiú hǎo yùn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 祈
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Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 斤 represents the sound.
1The meaning half礻 carries the sense.
2The sound half斤 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspirit
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 祈? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 祈?
Decomposition of 祈
IDS Structure⿰礻斤
祈Full Character
=
礻shi4
left
斤jin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 祈?
How to say to pray, to entreat, to beseech in Chinese
“to pray, to entreat, to beseech” in Chinese is祈qí
The character 祈 (qí) means 'to pray' or 'to beseech.' It is commonly used in both religious and secular contexts where one may ask for help, guidance, or favor from a higher power or authority. This word conveys a sense of earnestness and humility in the act of requesting assistance.
When to use 祈
Be careful not to confuse 祈 with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 期 (qī), which means 'to expect.' 祈 is often used in more formal or solemn contexts, especially in religious settings, so it is best avoided in casual conversations. Common collocations include 祈祷 (qídǎo, to pray) and 祈愿 (qíyuàn, to make a wish).
祈 or something close to it
祷 (dǎo) — use 祈 (qí) for a more personal or earnest request, while 祷 (dǎo) often refers to formal prayers.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 祈 with 期 (qī), leading to sentences like '我期好运' (Wǒ qī hǎo yùn), which is incorrect. The correct usage is '我祈求好运' (Wǒ qíqiú hǎo yùn).
Write 祈
祈
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Grammar Patterns of 祈
祈 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.
During his visit, the Pope will also bless the new hospital.
Cultural Notes for 祈
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While both Chinese and Western cultures value prayer, in Chinese culture, it is often more communal and ritualistic, while in many Western cultures, it can be more individualistic and spontaneous.
Word Family of 祈
Words Containing This Character6
祈祷qídǎoto pray祈禱
祈qíto pray
祈求to pray for
祈福to pray for blessings
祈望to hope
祈使句imperative sentence
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 祈祷 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 祈
You can use it in sentences like '我祈求好运' (Wǒ qíqiú hǎo yùn), meaning 'I pray for good luck.'
Yes, 祈 can be used in both contexts, though it is more commonly associated with religious practices.
While 祈 emphasizes praying or beseeching, 请求 specifically means 'to request' and is more straightforward and formal.
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