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其 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
其
qí
his
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
her
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
its
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
theirs
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
that
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
such
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
it (refers to sth preceding it)
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
其
qí
his, her, its, their; that
HSK 5, r, 8 strokes, radical 八, rank #982, Hard
qí(qi2)qi T2
1his
2her
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March 24, 2026
其qí(qi2)
The character 其 (qí) is a possessive pronoun that translates to 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their', and is often used in a formal context. It can also mean 'that' or 'such', referring to something mentioned earlier in conversation. This character is frequently used in written Chinese, especially in literary or formal texts.
Strokes8Radical八Frequency#982DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The use of 其 in classical literature reflects the formal style of ancient Chinese writing, which often emphasizes possession and relationships. This character is prevalent in historical texts, emphasizing the societal norms around respect and hierarchy.
Memory tip
Imagine '其' as a key (the character's shape resembles a key) that unlocks possession; think of it as the key to someone's belongings. The pronunciation 'qí' can be remembered by associating it with the word 'key' to help reinforce its meaning of possession.
Meanings of 其
qí(qi2)
1his
2her
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About 其
其Simplified
8Strokes
八Radical
代词dàicípronoun (pron.)Part of Speech
#982Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
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AI study notes for 其
Usage Notes
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 其 with other pronouns like 他 (tā, he) or 她 (tā, she), as 其 is more formal. It is often used in fixed expressions or classical texts, so it may not be used in everyday conversations. Pay attention to the context to choose the right form of 'his/her/its/their'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 其 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it appears in advanced texts that students may encounter. It connects with other possessive structures and formal expressions, so learners should focus on recognizing its usage in literature and formal writing.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 其 in informal settings where 他 or 她 would be more appropriate, such as saying '其是我朋友' instead of '他是我朋友'. Another mistake is confusing its meaning with '这' (this) or '那' (that), as its use is more nuanced.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 其
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The character 其 (qí) is a possessive pronoun that translates to 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their', and is often used in a formal context. It can also mean 'that' or 'such', referring to something mentioned earlier in conversation. This character is frequently used in written Chinese, especially in literary or formal texts.
When to use 其
Learners should be cautious not to confuse 其 with other pronouns like 他 (tā, he) or 她 (tā, she), as 其 is more formal. It is often used in fixed expressions or classical texts, so it may not be used in everyday conversations. Pay attention to the context to choose the right form of 'his/her/its/their'.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 其 in informal settings where 他 or 她 would be more appropriate, such as saying '其是我朋友' instead of '他是我朋友'. Another mistake is confusing its meaning with '这' (this) or '那' (that), as its use is more nuanced.
Write 其
其
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Grammar patterns of 其
其 functions as a pronoun — it stands in for a noun. Use it in the same positions as nouns (subject before verb, object after). Plurals are formed by adding 们 (我们, 他们). It carries 8 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.
The Turkish situation makes the lead in tomorrow's Guardian.
9
你可以和其他在线的人聊天。
nǐ kěyǐ hé qítā zàixiàn de rén liáotiān。
You can chat to other people who are online.
10
如果你的排气管脱落，应将其更换。
rúguǒ nǐ de pái qìguǎn tuōluò， yìng jiāng qí gēnghuàn。
When your exhaust falls off, you have to replace it.
11
他非常珍惜其父母为他所做的一切。
Tā fēicháng zhēnxī qí fùmǔ wèi tā suǒ zuò de yīqiè.
He greatly cherishes everything his parents have done for him.
12
他对其未来的计划充满信心。
Tā duì qí wèilái de jìhuà chōngmǎn xìnxīn.
He is full of confidence in his future plans.
13
尽管其观点不同，我们仍然尊重他的意见。
Jǐnguǎn qí guāndiǎn bùtóng, wǒmen réngrán zūnzhòng tā de yìjiàn.
Despite his different views, we still respect his opinion.
14
其作品被认为是当代艺术的经典。
Qí zuòpǐn bèi rènwéi shì dāngdài yìshù de jīngdiǎn.
His works are considered classics of contemporary art.
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Cultural Notes for 其
💡Did you know?
The character 其 has been used in classical Chinese literature for centuries, often seen in philosophical texts. It exemplifies the fluidity of pronouns in Chinese, where one character can convey multiple meanings based on context.
Word Family of 其
Compounds44
斯sīSlovakia
期qīvariant of 期[qī]
基jībase
欺qīto take unfair advantage of
旗qíflag
琪qífine jade
棋qívariant of 棋[qí]
淇qía river in Henan province
簸bǒto winnow
麒qímythical unicorn
箕jīsieve; dust pan; garbage bag
骐qípiebald horse; excellent horse
祺qígood luck, good fortune
鲯qíray-finned fish; Coryphaena hippurus
萁qípulses, legumes
娸qī
帺qí
惎jì
綦qídark gray; variegated; superlative
蜞qílightfoot crab; worm, leech
褀qí
褰qiān4undergarment; to pick up one's skirt
諆qī
錤jī
魌qī
倛qī
剘qí
唭qì
掑qí
朞jī
棊qí
猉qí
碁qí
稘jī
簱qí
籏qí
粸qí
綨qí
蜝qí
諅jì
踑qí
騏qí
鯕qíray-finned fish; Coryphaena hippurus
鶀qí
Words containing this character20
其他qítāother
其qíhis
其实qíshíactually其實
其中qízhōngamong
其它qítāother
尤其yóuqíespecially
及其jíqíand
尤其是yóuqíshìespecially
其次qícìnext
其余qíyúthe rest其餘
极其jíqíextremely極其
与其yǔqírather than...與其
土耳其tǔ’ěrqíTurkey
莫名其妙mòmíngqímiào(idiom) baffling
其后qíhòunext其後
其一qíyīthe first
其间qíjiānin between其間
名副其实míngfùqíshínot just in name only, but also in reality (idiom)名副其實
其二qí’èrsecondly
突如其来tūrúqíláito arise abruptly突如其來
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 其
What does 斯 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 其
其 (qí) is a more formal or literary equivalent of 他的 (tā de), which means 'his.' While 他的 is commonly used in everyday conversation, 其 is less frequent and more suitable for written or formal contexts.
Yes, 其 (qí) can refer to multiple subjects when used in the context of 'their' or 'those.' For instance, 其人 (qí rén) can mean 'those people.' It’s important to consider the context to ensure clarity.
其 (qí) is a pronoun in Chinese that translates to 'his,' 'her,' 'its,' or 'their.' It can also mean 'that' or 'such' when used in different contexts. It's often found in literary or formal texts.
You can use 其 (qí) to refer to possession or attribution. For example, in the sentence 这是他的书， 这是其书 (Zhè shì tā de shū, zhè shì qí shū), it emphasizes 'this is his book, this is that book.' It’s important to use it in appropriate contexts, especially in formal writing.
No, 其 is more commonly found in formal or literary contexts rather than in casual conversation.
Yes, while 其 can refer to people, it is typically used in a formal context; in ordinary speech, use 他 or 她.
Focus on the context; 其 is used in more formal or literary contexts, while 他 and 她 are used in everyday language.
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