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咠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
咠qìto whisper, to slander, to blamex, 9 strokes, radical 口
qì(qi4) T4
  1. 1to whisper, to slander, to blame
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March 24, 2026

咠qì(qi4)

The character 咠 (qì) primarily means to whisper or to speak softly, often with a connotation of slander or blame. It is used in contexts where someone is speaking quietly, possibly to avoid being overheard, or when discussing gossip and negative remarks about others.

Strokes9Radical口
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, gossip can be a significant social activity, often tied to maintaining social harmony or addressing conflicts indirectly. Understanding the nuances of 咠 can help in navigating social discussions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sneaky cat (喵) whispering (咠) secrets to another cat, trying not to be overheard. The sound 'qì' is like the quiet 'shh' you make when sharing juicy gossip.

Meanings of 咠

qì(qi4)
1to whisper, to slander, to blame
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 咠

咠Simplified
9Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 咠

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Podcast: 咠

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AI Study Notes for 咠

Usage Notes

This character is generally used in informal contexts and can carry a negative connotation when referring to slander. Be careful with the tones; mixing it up can change the meaning completely. Common collocations include phrases around gossiping or blaming someone quietly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 咠 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other words related to communication and speech at higher levels. Focus on understanding its use in context, especially in negative situations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 咠 with similar-sounding characters like 喊 (hǎn), which means to shout. An incorrect usage might be saying '我咠给你' (Wǒ qì gěi nǐ - I whisper to you) instead of '我说给你' (Wǒ shuō gěi nǐ - I say to you).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 咠

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Etymology of 咠

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To whisper 口 in someone's ear 耳

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 咠

  1. 1The giveawayTo whisper 口 in someone's ear 耳
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 咠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 咠?

Decomposition of 咠

IDS Structure⿱口耳
咠Full Character
=
口kou3
top
耳er3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 咠?

How to say to whisper, to slander, to blame in Chinese

“to whisper, to slander, to blame” in Chinese is咠qì

The character 咠 (qì) primarily means to whisper or to speak softly, often with a connotation of slander or blame. It is used in contexts where someone is speaking quietly, possibly to avoid being overheard, or when discussing gossip and negative remarks about others.

When to use 咠

This character is generally used in informal contexts and can carry a negative connotation when referring to slander. Be careful with the tones; mixing it up can change the meaning completely. Common collocations include phrases around gossiping or blaming someone quietly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 咠 with similar-sounding characters like 喊 (hǎn), which means to shout. An incorrect usage might be saying '我咠给你' (Wǒ qì gěi nǐ - I whisper to you) instead of '我说给你' (Wǒ shuō gěi nǐ - I say to you).

Write 咠

咠

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 咠

The tone of 咠 is the fourth tone, which is a sharp and falling tone.

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