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哧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chīthe sound of ripping or gigglingo, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
chī(onom.) gigglingunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
chībreathingunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
chītearing of paper, ripping of fabric etcunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
chī(chi1) T1
  1. 1the sound of ripping or giggling
  2. 2(onom.) giggling
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March 24, 2026

chī(chi1)

The character 哧 (chī) represents the sound associated with a sharp noise, such as giggling or the tearing of paper. It is often used in onomatopoeic contexts to convey a light, playful sound, frequently evoking a sense of amusement or surprise.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#31618DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, onomatopoeic words like 哧 are prevalent in children's literature and storytelling, enriching the narrative with sound effects that engage young listeners and readers.

Memory Tip

Imagine a child giggling while tearing a piece of paper. The sound 'chī' mimics the sharp, quick noise of the paper ripping and the child's laughter. Picture the sound echoing in a quiet room, making it memorable.

Meanings of 哧

chī(chi1)
1the sound of ripping or giggling
2(onom.) giggling
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 哧

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 哧

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AI Study Notes for 哧

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a child giggling while tearing a piece of paper. The sound 'chī' mimics the sharp, quick noise of the paper ripping and the child's laughter. Picture the sound echoing in a quiet room, making it memorable.

Usage Notes

哧 is most often used in informal settings, especially in writing or spoken language to convey a playful tone. Be cautious not to confuse it with other sounds; it specifically denotes a light, sharp noise rather than a loud or harsh sound.

HSK Study Tips

Although 哧 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enhance your grasp of onomatopoeia in Mandarin. Focus on how it complements other verbs or expressions that denote sound.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, onomatopoeic words like 哧 are prevalent in children's literature and storytelling, enriching the narrative with sound effects that engage young listeners and readers.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 哧 with similar-sounding characters that denote different types of sounds, such as 啧 (zé). For example, using 哧 to describe a loud noise would be incorrect; it should only be used for light sounds like giggling.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 哧

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Etymology of 哧

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

mouth

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 哧?

Decomposition of 哧

IDS Structure⿰口赤
Full Character
=
kou3
left
chi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 哧?

Write 哧

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 哧

哧 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 3

Complete the Sentence

我喘气时呼____呼哧直响.

My breathing is harsh and wheezy.

Example Sentences for 哧 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我喘气时呼哧呼哧直响.

wǒ chuǎn qì shí hū chī hū chī zhí xiǎng.

My breathing is harsh and wheezy.
2
他扛起那只沉重的箱子, 吭哧吭哧地走了.

tā káng qǐ nà zhī chén zhòng de xiāng zǐ, , háng chī háng chī dì zǒu.

He heaved the heavy box and staggered off , puffing and blowing from the strain.

Cultural Notes for 哧

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, onomatopoeic words like 哧 are prevalent in children's literature and storytelling, enriching the narrative with sound effects that engage young listeners and readers.

Word Family of 哧

Words Containing This Character5
chībreathing
吭哧to whimper
呼哧呼哧(onom.) rapid breathing
呼哧(onom.) sound of panting
哼哧to puff hard (e.g. after running)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 哧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 哧

No, 哧 is generally reserved for informal contexts such as conversation or creative writing.