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侈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
侈chǐextravagantvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
侈chǐwastefulvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
侈chǐexaggeratingvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
侈chǐluxurious, extravagantvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
chǐ(chi3)chi T3
  1. 1extravagant
  2. 2wasteful
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March 24, 2026

侈chǐ(chi3)

The character 侈 (chǐ) refers to extravagance or luxury, often with a negative connotation of wastefulness or excess. It can describe a lifestyle, spending habits, or even expressions that are exaggerated or ostentatious, making it useful in discussions about consumer behavior and social values.

Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#69114DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 侈 is often viewed negatively, as frugality and modesty are valued. The phrase '节俭持家' (jie jian chi jia, frugal and manage the household) contrasts sharply with the idea of being 侈.

Memory tip

Imagine a wealthy person wearing a very extravagant coat (侈) that is so large and lavish that it could fit multiple people. The '𠂇' (person) radical reminds you that this character relates to people and their lavish behaviors.

Meanings of 侈

chǐ(chi3)
1extravagant
2wasteful
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 侈

侈Simplified
8Strokes
亻Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank

Podcast: 侈

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Podcast: 侈

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AI study notes for 侈

Quick Contrast

奢 (shē) - use 侈 (chǐ) when emphasizing wastefulness or excess in a negative context, while 奢 (shē) focuses more on luxury without the same negative implication.

Usage Notes

侈 is generally used in more formal contexts and can appear in literary or academic discussions about materialism. Common collocations include 侈华 (chǐhuá, extravagant luxury) and 侈言 (chǐyán, exaggerated speech). Be cautious with tone, as the third tone can easily blend into a different meaning in rapid speech.

HSK Study Tips

While 侈 is not included in the HSK levels, it could be beneficial for HSK 4-5 learners focusing on vocabulary related to lifestyle and societal critiques. Students should also explore synonyms and antonyms to deepen their understanding of extravagance versus moderation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 侈 with the similar-sounding 奢 (shē), which also means luxury but carries a more neutral tone. An incorrect usage would be saying '他过得很侈' instead of '他过得很奢'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 侈

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Etymology of 侈

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A person 亻 with more than they need 多

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 侈?

Decomposition of 侈

IDS Structure⿰亻多
侈Full character
=
亻ren2
left
多duo1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 侈?

How to say extravagant in Chinese

“extravagant” in Chinese is侈chǐ

The character 侈 (chǐ) refers to extravagance or luxury, often with a negative connotation of wastefulness or excess. It can describe a lifestyle, spending habits, or even expressions that are exaggerated or ostentatious, making it useful in discussions about consumer behavior and social values.

When to use 侈

侈 is generally used in more formal contexts and can appear in literary or academic discussions about materialism. Common collocations include 侈华 (chǐhuá, extravagant luxury) and 侈言 (chǐyán, exaggerated speech). Be cautious with tone, as the third tone can easily blend into a different meaning in rapid speech.

侈 or something close to it

奢 (shē) - use 侈 (chǐ) when emphasizing wastefulness or excess in a negative context, while 奢 (shē) focuses more on luxury without the same negative implication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 侈 with the similar-sounding 奢 (shē), which also means luxury but carries a more neutral tone. An incorrect usage would be saying '他过得很侈' instead of '他过得很奢'.

Write 侈

侈

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

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Grammar patterns of 侈

侈 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这种奢____的滑石润肤露能使缺水的皮肤恢复柔软与弹性。

This luxurious talcum lotion restores softness and suppleness to dehydrated skin.

Example sentences for 侈 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这种奢侈的滑石润肤露能使缺水的皮肤恢复柔软与弹性。

zhè zhǒng shēchǐ de huá dàn rùn fū lòu néng shǐ quē shuǐ de pífū huīfù róuruǎn yǔ tánxìng。

This luxurious talcum lotion restores softness and suppleness to dehydrated skin.
2
你能稍微奢侈一点吗?你的预算是否有上限?

nǐ néng shāowēi shēchǐ yīdiǎn ma? nǐ de yùsuàn shìfǒu yǒu shàngxiàn?

Can you afford to splash out a little? Is your budget unlimited?
3
将你在奢侈品上的花费降至可控范围。

jiāng nǐ zài shēchǐ pǐn shàng de huāfèi jiàng zhì kě kòng fànwéi。

Keep your spending on luxuries down to manageable proportions.
4
你不该把钱浪费在那种小奢侈品上。

nǐ bù gāi bǎ qián làngfèi zài nà zhǒng xiǎo shēchǐ pǐn shàng。

You cannot chuck money away on little luxuries like that.
5
谁会为她奢侈的假日买单?

shéi huì wèi tā shēchǐ de jiàrì mǎidān?

Who is footing the bill for her extravagant holiday?
6
该地区的消费者经济窘迫,在奢侈品上的开销比以前少了。

gāi dìqū de xiāofèizhě jīngjì jiǒngpò, zài shēchǐ pǐn shàng de kāixiāo bǐ yǐqián shǎo le。

The region's hard-pressed consumers are spending less on luxuries.
7
靠自己的工资他买不起奢侈的食品。

kào zìjǐ de gōngzī tā mǎibuqǐ shēchǐ de shípǐn。

He could not afford luxury food on his pay.
8
她一味地埋头为这趟旅行作种种奢侈的准备.

tā yíwèi dì mái tóu wèi zhè tàng lǚxíng zuō zhǒngzhǒng shēchǐ de zhǔnbèi.

She threw herself into extravagant preparations for the journey.
9
在经济衰退期间,培训预算被认为是一项可以节省下来的奢侈费用。

zài jīngjì shuāituì qījiān, péixùn yùsuàn bèi rènwéi shì yī xiàng kěyǐ jiéshěng xiàlái de shēchǐ fèiyong。

During the recession, training budgets were seen as an expendable luxury.
10
奢侈品税其实对削减预算赤字并不会有多少帮助。

shēchǐ pǐn shuì qíshí duì xuējiǎn yùsuàn chìzì bìng bù huì yǒu duōshao bāngzhù。

The luxury tax won't really do much to pare down the budget deficit.

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Word Family of 侈

Words containing this character6
奢侈shēchǐluxurious
奢侈品shēchǐpǐnluxury good
侈chǐwasteful
侈谈chǐtánto prate侈談
穷奢极侈qióngshējíchǐextravagant in the extreme (idiom)窮奢極侈
侈糜chǐmíwasteful
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 侈

What does 奢侈 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 侈

Some synonyms include 奢 (shē, luxury) and 浪费 (làngfèi, waste).

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