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叱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
叱chìto scold, to upbraid; to shout atv, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #33917, Very Hard
叱chìshout atunknown, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #33917, Very Hard
叱chìto hoot atunknown, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #33917, Very Hard
chì(chi4)chi T4
  1. 1to scold, to upbraid; to shout at
  2. 2shout at
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March 24, 2026

叱chì(chi4)

The character 叱 (chì) means to scold or shout at someone, often in a commanding or authoritative manner. It is commonly used in contexts where reprimanding or expressing strong disapproval is involved, such as in familial or educational settings.

Strokes5Radical口Frequency#33917DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, scolding is often seen as a way to guide someone back on the right path, especially in familial or educational contexts where elders or teachers are expected to correct behavior.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strict teacher shouting at a student, with a loud 'chì' echoing through the classroom. The character 叱 features the radical for speech (口) on the left, reminding you of the act of vocal reprimanding.

Meanings of 叱

chì(chi4)
1to scold, to upbraid; to shout at
2shout at
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 叱 means.

About 叱

叱Simplified
5Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 叱

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Podcast: 叱

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AI Study Notes for 叱

Quick Contrast

叱 (chì) vs 责 (zé) — use 叱 for a more authoritative scolding, while 责 often implies a moral or formal reprimand.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to use 叱 in overly formal contexts; it is more informal and can come across as harsh. Common collocations include 叱责 (chìzé, to scold) and 叱问 (chìwèn, to interrogate or question sharply).

HSK Study Tips

While 叱 is not included in the official HSK levels, it connects with other words related to communication and discipline. Focus on recognizing its tone and context in conversations about authority or teaching.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 叱 with 斥 (chì), which also means to scold but carries a stronger connotation of reprimanding. For example, saying 斥责 (chìzé) instead of 叱责 (chìzé) can change the tone from a mild reprimand to a harsh one.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 叱

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Etymology of 叱

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

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 匕 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mouth

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

Origin

叱 = 口 + 匕. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 叱

IDS Structure⿰口匕
叱Full Character
=
口kou3
left
匕bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 叱?

How to say to scold, to upbraid; to shout at in Chinese

“to scold, to upbraid; to shout at” in Chinese is叱chì

The character 叱 (chì) means to scold or shout at someone, often in a commanding or authoritative manner. It is commonly used in contexts where reprimanding or expressing strong disapproval is involved, such as in familial or educational settings.

When to use 叱

Be cautious not to use 叱 in overly formal contexts; it is more informal and can come across as harsh. Common collocations include 叱责 (chìzé, to scold) and 叱问 (chìwèn, to interrogate or question sharply).

叱 or something close to it

叱 (chì) vs 责 (zé) — use 叱 for a more authoritative scolding, while 责 often implies a moral or formal reprimand.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 叱 with 斥 (chì), which also means to scold but carries a stronger connotation of reprimanding. For example, saying 斥责 (chìzé) instead of 叱责 (chìzé) can change the tone from a mild reprimand to a harsh one.

Write 叱

叱

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

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Grammar Patterns of 叱

叱 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 3 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 2

Fill the gap

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

他把脸扭成一团,大声呵____, 举起手来要打.

His face contorted to a snarl, his hand raised to strike.

Example Sentences for 叱 (2)

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1
他把脸扭成一团,大声呵叱, 举起手来要打.

tā bǎ liǎn niǔ chéng yī tuán, , dà shēng hē, chì , jǔ qǐ shǒu lái.

His face contorted to a snarl, his hand raised to strike.
2
这个老看门人总是责骂,呵叱个没完.

zhè gè lǎo kàn mén rén zǒng shì zé mà, , hē chì gè méi.

The old caretaker was always scolding and chiding.

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Cultural Notes for 叱

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, scolding might be viewed more negatively and could lead to feelings of resentment, whereas in Chinese culture, it is often perceived as a necessary part of guidance.

Word Family of 叱

Words Containing This Character10
叱chìto scold
叱责to upbraid叱責
叱咤to rebuke angrily
叱咤风云all-powerful叱咤風雲
叱喝to shout at
喝叱to berate
叱骂to curse叱罵
呵叱to berate
叱问to call sb to account叱問
叱呵to yell
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 叱

What does 叱责 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 叱

No, 叱 is generally too informal for formal communication; it is better suited for casual contexts.

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