Meanings of 遲
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About 遲
Podcast: 遲
Podcast: 遲
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AI Study Notes for 遲
迟 (chí) vs 晚 (wǎn) — use 迟 when emphasizing being late in terms of time or delay, while 晚 focuses more on the time of day or lateness in a schedule.
Common mistakes include confusing 遲 with 迟 (the simplified version), which has the same meaning but is used in different writing contexts. This word can be used in both formal and informal situations, but be cautious with its tone, as it carries a negative connotation when describing someone as late. Collocations include phrases like '遲到' (arriving late) or '遲鈍' (slow-witted).
While 遲 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK words related to time and punctuality, such as '早' (early) and '忙' (busy). Students should focus on understanding how to use this word in real-life scenarios, especially in social contexts.
Learners often confuse 遲 with the similar-sounding word 迟, which is the simplified version but carries the same meaning. An incorrect example would be using '我迟到了' instead of '我遲到了' in traditional contexts.
Pronunciation of 遲
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Etymology of 遲
Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 尺 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遲.
walk
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 遲
Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 尺 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遲.
- 1The meaning half辶 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half犀 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywalk
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 遲? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 遲?
Decomposition of 遲
Identify the Components
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How to say tardy, slow, late; to delay in Chinese
“tardy, slow, late; to delay” in Chinese is遲
The character 遲 (chí) means 'tardy' or 'late,' and is often used to describe a delay in time or a slow pace. It can refer to being late for an appointment or taking longer than expected to complete a task. In various contexts, it can also imply a sense of regret for not being punctual.
When to use 遲
Common mistakes include confusing 遲 with 迟 (the simplified version), which has the same meaning but is used in different writing contexts. This word can be used in both formal and informal situations, but be cautious with its tone, as it carries a negative connotation when describing someone as late. Collocations include phrases like '遲到' (arriving late) or '遲鈍' (slow-witted).
遲 or something close to it
迟 (chí) vs 晚 (wǎn) — use 迟 when emphasizing being late in terms of time or delay, while 晚 focuses more on the time of day or lateness in a schedule.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 遲 with the similar-sounding word 迟, which is the simplified version but carries the same meaning. An incorrect example would be using '我迟到了' instead of '我遲到了' in traditional contexts.
Write 遲
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Practice writing 遲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 遲
Compound Meaning
What does 迟到 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 遲
You can say '我遲到了' (Wǒ chí dào le) meaning 'I am late.'
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