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侈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chǐextravagantvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
chǐwastefulvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
chǐexaggeratingvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
chǐluxurious, extravagantvg, 8 strokes, radical 亻, rank #69114, Very Hard
chǐ(chi3) T3
  1. 1extravagant
  2. 2wasteful
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

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.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 侈

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

Podcast: 侈

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Podcast:

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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.

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 侈?

Decomposition of 侈

IDS Structure⿰亻多
Full Character
=
ren2
left
duo1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 侈?

Write 侈

Practice writing 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

Complete the Sentence

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 shē chǐ de huá shí rùn fū lòu néng shǐ quē shuǐ de pí fū huī fù róu ruǎn yǔ dàn xìng。

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 shāo wēi shē chǐ yī diǎn ma? ? nǐ de yù suàn shì fǒu yǒu shàng?

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 shē chǐ pǐn shàng de huā fèi jiàng zhì kě kòng fàn wéi。

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 làng fèi zài nà zhǒng xiǎo shē chǐ pǐn shàng。

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

shuí huì wéi tā shē chǐ de jiǎ rì mǎi dān?

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 dì qū de xiāo fèi zhě jīng jì jiǒng pò, , zài shē chǐ pǐn shàng de kāi xiāo bǐ yǐ qián shǎo。

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 zì jǐ de gōng zī tā mǎi bù qǐ shē chǐ de shí pǐn。

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 yī wèi dì mái tóu wéi zhè tàng lǚ háng zuò zhǒng zhǒng shē chǐ de zhǔn bèi.

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 jīng jì shuāi tuì qī jiān, , péi xùn yù suàn bèi rèn wéi shì yī xiàng kě yǐ jié shěng xià lái de shē chǐ fèi。

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。

shē chǐ pǐn shuì qí shí duì xiāo jiǎn yù suàn chì zì bìng bù huì yǒu duō shǎo bāng zhù。

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

Cultural Notes for 侈

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 侈

Words Containing This Character6
奢侈shēchǐluxurious
奢侈品luxury good
chǐwasteful
侈谈to prate侈談
穷奢极侈extravagant in the extreme (idiom)窮奢極侈
侈糜wasteful
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 奢侈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 侈

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