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耋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耋diéaged; in one's eightiesg, 12 strokes, radical 老
dié(die2)die T2
  1. 1aged; in one's eighties
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March 24, 2026

耋dié(die2)

The character 耋 (dié) refers to someone who is elderly, specifically in their eighties. It is often used in formal contexts to describe age respectfully. This term conveys a sense of wisdom and experience associated with advanced age.

Strokes12Radical老
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there is a deep respect for the elderly, and terms like 耋 reflect this reverence. Celebrating the 80th birthday, known as '八十大寿' (bāshí dà shòu), is a significant milestone in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise old man sitting on a high chair (the character's form looks a bit like a person sitting) who has lived for over eighty years. 'Dié' sounds like 'dear,' reminding you to cherish and respect the elderly in our lives.

Meanings of 耋

dié(die2)
1aged; in one's eighties
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 耋

耋Simplified
12Strokes
老Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 耋

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AI study notes for 耋

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using this term, as it may come off as overly formal in casual conversations. It is often used in written contexts, such as literature or formal speeches. Common collocations include phrases like '耋耄之年' (old age).

HSK Study Tips

While 耋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of age-related vocabulary. Focus on related terms like 老 (lǎo, old) or 年龄 (niánlíng, age) to build a broader context around age.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 耋 with similar characters like 老 (lǎo) and 嗜 (shì). For example, saying '他是一个耋人' (tā shì yīgè dié rén) is incorrect; it should be '他是一个老人' (tā shì yīgè lǎo rén) for general old people.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耋

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Etymology of 耋

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

old

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

Origin

耋 = 老 + 至. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 耋

IDS Structure⿱老至
耋Full character
=
老lao3
top
至zhi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 耋?

How to say aged; in one's eighties in Chinese

“aged; in one's eighties” in Chinese is耋dié

The character 耋 (dié) refers to someone who is elderly, specifically in their eighties. It is often used in formal contexts to describe age respectfully. This term conveys a sense of wisdom and experience associated with advanced age.

When to use 耋

Be cautious when using this term, as it may come off as overly formal in casual conversations. It is often used in written contexts, such as literature or formal speeches. Common collocations include phrases like '耋耄之年' (old age).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 耋 with similar characters like 老 (lǎo) and 嗜 (shì). For example, saying '他是一个耋人' (tā shì yīgè dié rén) is incorrect; it should be '他是一个老人' (tā shì yīgè lǎo rén) for general old people.

Write 耋

耋

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

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Word Family of 耋

Words containing this character3
耋diéaged
耄耋extremely aged
耄耋之年old age (in one's 80s, 90s, or more)
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 耋

What does 耄耋 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 耋

No, it is more commonly found in formal or literary contexts.

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