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郗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chīan ancient city; surnamex, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
chīsurname Chiunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
chīname of an ancient cityunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
an ancient city; surnamex, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
surname Chiunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
name of an ancient cityunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, Very Hard
(xi1)
primary
T1
  1. 1an ancient city; surname
  2. 2name of an ancient city
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(xi1)

The character 郗 (xī) primarily refers to an ancient city, as well as serving as a surname in Chinese. It is not commonly used in contemporary language, but it may appear in historical texts or discussions about genealogy. Understanding this character can provide insights into historical contexts or family lineage.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The character 郗 relates to historical Chinese geography, as it represents a city that may have played a role in ancient Chinese civilization. Understanding such characters can deepen your appreciation of China's vast history.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 郗 as a 'city gate' (the radical 邑 signifies a place) with an ancient vibe. Picture a wise elder named 'Xi' who guards the gate of a forgotten city, helping you remember both the pronunciation and its meaning.

Meanings of 郗

(xi1)
primary
1an ancient city; surname
2name of an ancient city
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 郗

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 郗

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 郗

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine the character 郗 as a 'city gate' (the radical 邑 signifies a place) with an ancient vibe. Picture a wise elder named 'Xi' who guards the gate of a forgotten city, helping you remember both the pronunciation and its meaning.

Usage Notes

Due to its rarity, 郗 is mostly found in formal or historical contexts. Learners might confuse it with more common surnames or characters with similar pronunciations. Pay attention to the tone; 'xī' has a flat high tone, differing from other tones.

HSK Study Tips

While 郗 is not included in the HSK, it can be helpful for students interested in historical or literary texts. Focus on recognizing the character's components and its connection to place names, which can enhance your understanding of Chinese geography.

Cultural Note

The character 郗 relates to historical Chinese geography, as it represents a city that may have played a role in ancient Chinese civilization. Understanding such characters can deepen your appreciation of China's vast history.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 郗 with similar-sounding surnames like '希' (xī) or '习' (xí). Remember that 郗 specifically relates to historical contexts and is not used in everyday conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 郗

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Etymology of 郗

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

city

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 郗?

Decomposition of 郗

IDS Structure⿰希阝
Full Character
=
xi1
left
yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 郗?

Write 郗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 郗

🏮Cultural insight

The character 郗 relates to historical Chinese geography, as it represents a city that may have played a role in ancient Chinese civilization. Understanding such characters can deepen your appreciation of China's vast history.

Word Family of 郗

Words Containing This Character1
surname Chi
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 郗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 郗

No, 郗 is not a common surname in modern China and is mostly found in historical records.