unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zhī
(onom.) to squeak (of mice)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zhī
to chirp or peep (of small birds)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zī
to chirp; to hiss; to squeak
o, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zī
(onom.) creaking or groaning
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zī
(onom.) to squeak (of mice)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
吱
zī
to chirp or peep (of small birds)
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #17169, Very Hard
zhī(zhi1)zhi
primary
T1
1to chirp; to hiss; to squeak
2(onom.) creaking or groaning
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
吱zhī(zhi1)
The character 吱 (zhī) represents the sounds made by small animals, particularly the chirping of birds or the squeaking of mice. It is often used in onomatopoeic contexts to convey these specific sounds, and you might encounter it in stories or descriptions that involve animals or nature.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#17169DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, animal sounds like those represented by 吱 are often depicted in children's stories and folk tales, emphasizing the connection between humans and nature. This character highlights the appreciation of the natural world in everyday life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small mouse squeaking 'zhī' as it scurries across the floor. The character 吱 has a mouth (口) that lets out this high-pitched sound, and the 'zh' sound resembles the noise made by the mouse, making it easier to remember.
Meanings of 吱
zhī(zhi1)
primary
1to chirp; to hiss; to squeak
2(onom.) creaking or groaning
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 吱 means.
About 吱
吱Simplified
7Strokes
口Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 吱
Podcast: 吱
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AI Study Notes for 吱
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 吱 with similar-sounding words, as it is specific to certain animal sounds. It is generally used in informal contexts, often in literature or casual conversation about nature. Common collocations include phrases related to animal sounds or descriptions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 吱 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be connected to onomatopoeic words in HSK vocabulary. Focus on recognizing its sound-related context, as it complements other words that describe actions or sounds, enhancing your descriptive language skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吱 with similar characters that represent different sounds, such as 嘶 (sī) for hissing. Make sure to use 吱 specifically for chirping or squeaking sounds to avoid confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吱
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How Well Do You Know 吱?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 吱 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
吱 = 口 + 支. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 吱
IDS Structure⿰口支
吱Full Character
=
口kou3
left
支Zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 吱?
How to say to chirp; to hiss; to squeak in Chinese
“to chirp; to hiss; to squeak” in Chinese is吱zhī
The character 吱 (zhī) represents the sounds made by small animals, particularly the chirping of birds or the squeaking of mice. It is often used in onomatopoeic contexts to convey these specific sounds, and you might encounter it in stories or descriptions that involve animals or nature.
When to use 吱
Be careful not to confuse 吱 with similar-sounding words, as it is specific to certain animal sounds. It is generally used in informal contexts, often in literature or casual conversation about nature. Common collocations include phrases related to animal sounds or descriptions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 吱 with similar characters that represent different sounds, such as 嘶 (sī) for hissing. Make sure to use 吱 specifically for chirping or squeaking sounds to avoid confusion.
Write 吱
吱
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Practice writing 吱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 吱
吱 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. 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.
我签到后嘎____嘎吱走过石子路来到我的房间。
I signed in and crunched across the gravel to my room.
Example Sentences for 吱 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我签到后嘎吱嘎吱走过石子路来到我的房间。
wǒ qiān dào hòu gā zhī gā zhī zǒu guò shí zǐ lù lái dào wǒ de fáng jiān。
I signed in and crunched across the gravel to my room.
2
电梯嘎吱一声停在了一层。
diàn tī gā zhī yī shēng tíng zài le yī céng。
The elevator creaked to a halt at the ground floor.
3
地板上的沙子在我们脚下嘎吱作响。
dì bǎn shàng de shā zǐ zài wǒ mén jiǎo xià gā zhī zuò xiǎng。
