Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
哧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
哧chīthe sound of ripping or gigglingo, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
哧chī(onom.) gigglingunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
哧chībreathingunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
哧chītearing of paper, ripping of fabric etcunknown, 10 strokes, radical 口, rank #31618, Very Hard
chī(chi1)chi T1
  1. 1the sound of ripping or giggling
  2. 2(onom.) giggling
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

哧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.

Strokes10Radical口Frequency#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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 哧 means.

About 哧

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

Podcast: 哧

JasonAmy

Podcast: 哧

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 哧

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.

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

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 哧, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 哧 to you

Let me explain 哧 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 哧 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 哧?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 哧 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 哧

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

mouth

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

Origin

哧 = 口 + 赤. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 哧

IDS Structure⿰口赤
哧Full character
=
口kou3
left
赤chi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 哧?

How to say the sound of ripping or giggling in Chinese

“the sound of ripping or giggling” in Chinese is哧chī

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.

When to use 哧

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 哧

哧

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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

Fill the gap

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

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 chuǎnqì 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 gāng qǐ nà zhī chénzhòng de xiāngzi, háng chī háng chī dì zǒu le.

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

Ask Jason

Have a question about 哧?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 哧

Words containing this character5
哧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

Words with 哧

What does 吭哧 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 哧

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 哧?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab