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翅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
翅
chì
wings; fins
ng, 10 strokes, radical 羽, rank #16118, Very Hard
chì(chi4)chi T4
1wings; fins
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March 24, 2026
翅(翄)chì(chi4)
翅 (chì) refers specifically to wings or fins, often used in contexts involving birds or aquatic animals. This character can also represent variants of related words, emphasizing its role in describing limbs used for flight or swimming. It is a versatile term in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Strokes10Radical羽Frequency#16118DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, '鱼翅' (fish fins) refers to shark fins, a delicacy that has sparked debates about sustainability and conservation. This highlights the cultural significance and sometimes controversial nature of this term in modern discussions.
Memory tip
Imagine a bird soaring high in the sky, its wings (翅) spread wide. The character has a wing-like shape that reminds you of the soaring flight, while the 'ch' sound in 'chì' connects to the 'ch' in 'chirp,' the sound a bird makes.
Meanings of 翅
chì(chi4)
1wings; fins
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 翅 means.
About 翅
翅Simplified
翄Traditional
10Strokes
羽Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#16118Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翅
Podcast: 翅
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AI study notes for 翅
Quick Contrast
翅 (wing) vs 翼 (wing, specifically refers to the wing structure of birds or aircraft) — use 翅 for general wings, while 翼 emphasizes structure.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 翅 (chì) with similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in phrases relating to animals. Common collocations include '翅膀' (wings) and '鱼翅' (fish fins).
HSK Study Tips
翅 is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects to related vocabulary about animals and nature, which are common themes in HSK materials. Focus on its usage in context to expand your vocabulary around animals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翅 (chì) with other similar characters like 迟 (chí), which means 'late.' For example, saying '我有翅' (I have late) instead of '我有翅膀' (I have wings) is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翅
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 翅 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.
翅 = 羽 + 支. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 翅
IDS Structure⿺支羽
翅Full character
=
支Zhi1
enclosing
羽yu3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 翅?
How to say wings; fins in Chinese
“wings; fins” in Chinese is翅chì
翅 (chì) refers specifically to wings or fins, often used in contexts involving birds or aquatic animals. This character can also represent variants of related words, emphasizing its role in describing limbs used for flight or swimming. It is a versatile term in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
When to use 翅
Be careful not to confuse 翅 (chì) with similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in phrases relating to animals. Common collocations include '翅膀' (wings) and '鱼翅' (fish fins).
翅 or something close to it
翅 (wing) vs 翼 (wing, specifically refers to the wing structure of birds or aircraft) — use 翅 for general wings, while 翼 emphasizes structure.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 翅 (chì) with other similar characters like 迟 (chí), which means 'late.' For example, saying '我有翅' (I have late) instead of '我有翅膀' (I have wings) is a common error.
Write 翅
翅
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Practice writing 翅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 翅
翅 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她看见蛾子的____膀偶尔会泛光。
She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
Example sentences for 翅 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她看见蛾子的翅膀偶尔会泛光。
tā kànjiàn é zi de chìbǎng ǒu’ěr huì fàn guāng。
She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
2
一只鸽子从塔里钻出来，扑扑地拍打着翅膀。
yī zhī gēzi cóng tǎ lǐ zuān chūlái， pū pū dì pāi dǎ zhe chìbǎng。
A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower.
