HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #11217, Hard
稀
xī
uncommon
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #11217, Hard
稀
xī
watery
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #11217, Hard
稀
xī
sparse
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #11217, Hard
稀
xī
rare, unusual; scarce, sparse
HSK 7, a, 12 strokes, radical 禾, rank #11217, Hard
xī(xi1) T1
1rare
2uncommon
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March 24, 2026
稀xī(xi1)
The character 稀 (xī) conveys the idea of rarity or scarcity. It is commonly used to describe things that are not abundant, such as rare resources or unusual occurrences. Additionally, it can refer to a diluted or watery substance, emphasizing a lack of density or concentration.
Strokes12Radical禾Frequency#11217DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of rarity is often associated with value; for example, rare teas or antiques are highly prized. The phrase '稀世珍品' (xīshì zhēnpǐn) means 'world-class rarity' and reflects this cultural appreciation for the uncommon.
Memory Tip
Imagine a thin soup that is very watery and has few ingredients, symbolizing something being sparse or rare. The character 稀 has the radical for 'rice' (米) at the bottom, which you can visualize as not much rice in a watery broth, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 稀
xī(xi1)
1rare
2uncommon
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 稀
稀Simplified
12Strokes
禾Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#11217Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 稀
Podcast: 稀
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AI Study Notes for 稀
Quick Contrast
稀 (xī) vs 稀少 (xī shǎo) — use 稀 for describing a lack of density or concentration, while 稀少 emphasizes scarcity in quantity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a thin soup that is very watery and has few ingredients, symbolizing something being sparse or rare. The character 稀 has the radical for 'rice' (米) at the bottom, which you can visualize as not much rice in a watery broth, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 稀 with similar-sounding words like 希 (xī), which means 'hope' or 'rare' in a different context. 稀 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about resources or densities, such as '稀有' (xīyǒu) for 'rare' or '稀薄' (xībó) for 'thin' or 'watery'.
HSK Study Tips
While 稀 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK vocabulary related to quantities and conditions, such as 多 (duō, many) and 少 (shǎo, few). Students should focus on its usage in descriptive contexts and its collocations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of rarity is often associated with value; for example, rare teas or antiques are highly prized. The phrase '稀世珍品' (xīshì zhēnpǐn) means 'world-class rarity' and reflects this cultural appreciation for the uncommon.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 稀 (xī) with 希 (xī), leading to incorrect usage in sentences like '这水很希' (This water is very 希) instead of '这水很稀' (This water is very 稀). Always remember that 稀 refers to something sparse or watery.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 稀
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Grammar Patterns of 稀
稀 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 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 4
Complete the Sentence
几十个仆人迎合他所有____奇古怪的念头。
Dozens of servants had catered to his every whim.
Example Sentences for 稀 (10)
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1
几十个仆人迎合他所有稀奇古怪的念头。
jī shí gè pū rén yíng hé tā suǒ yǒu xī qí gǔ guài de niàn tóu。
Dozens of servants had catered to his every whim.
2
她把一头稀疏的浅黄色头发向后梳，挽成了个圆髻。
tā bǎ yī tóu xī shū de qiǎn huáng sè tóu fā xiàng hòu shū， ， wǎn chéng le gè yuán。
She had pale thin yellow hair she pulled back into a bun.
Both animals and people were gasping for breath in the rarefied air.
10
在她右边，远远的，她依稀能辨认出希法镇。
zài tā yòu biān， ， yuǎn yuǎn， de ， tā yī xī néng biàn rèn chū xī。
Distantly, to her right, she could make out the town of Chiffa.
Cultural Notes for 稀
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of rarity is often associated with value; for example, rare teas or antiques are highly prized. The phrase '稀世珍品' (xīshì zhēnpǐn) means 'world-class rarity' and reflects this cultural appreciation for the uncommon.
Word Family of 稀
Words Containing This Character20
稀xīrare
稀有uncommon
稀释to dilute稀釋
稀罕xīhanrare
稀饭porridge稀飯
稀奇xīqírare
稀缺scarce
稀少xīshǎosparse
依稀vaguely
珍稀zhēnxīrare
稀薄thin
稀奇古怪crazy
稀土rare earth (chemistry)
稀疏sparse
稀里糊涂muddleheaded稀裏糊塗
稀烂smashed up稀爛
稀客infrequent visitor
稀松poor稀鬆
拉稀to cower
稀世rare
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 稀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 稀
You can find 稀 in phrases like 稀有 (xīyǒu, rare) and 稀稀拉拉 (xīxīlālā, sparse), commonly used to describe things that are thinly spread or not plentiful.
Yes, 稀 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but in formal writing, it is often found in discussions about scientific measurements or descriptions of rarity.
It is pronounced as 'xī', with a high, level tone.
