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奎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
奎
kuí
a man's stride; a constellation
nr, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Very Hard
奎
kuí
crotch
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Very Hard
奎
kuí
15th of the 28th constellations of Chinese astronomy
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #9548, Very Hard
kuí(kui2)kui T2
1a man's stride; a constellation
2crotch
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March 24, 2026
奎kuí(kui2)
The character 奎 (kuí) primarily refers to a man's stride or gait, symbolizing strength and assertiveness in movement. It also represents one of the constellations in Chinese astronomy, specifically the 15th of the 28 constellations used historically in navigation and astrology. This word can be encountered in both poetic and astronomical contexts.
Strokes9Radical大Frequency#9548DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the constellation represented by 奎 is part of traditional astrological systems, reflecting how celestial bodies influence earthly events. This connection emphasizes the historical significance of astronomy in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a strong man taking a confident stride (the meaning of 'kuí') while pointing to the night sky where the constellation 'kuí' shines brightly. The character 奎 is composed of the radical for 'woman' (女) and 'tall' (圭), suggesting a powerful figure.
Meanings of 奎
kuí(kui2)
1a man's stride; a constellation
2crotch
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 奎 means.
About 奎
奎Simplified
9Strokes
大Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 奎
Podcast: 奎
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AI study notes for 奎
Usage Notes
This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for literary or scholarly contexts. Be cautious of mispronouncing it with the wrong tone, as it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 奎 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is good for learners to recognize characters related to astronomy, as they often appear in texts discussing Chinese culture and literature. Students should focus on understanding its various meanings and contexts to enhance vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 奎 with similar-sounding characters, such as 魁 (kuí), which also relates to strength but has different meanings. Ensure you practice the correct tone and context to avoid miscommunication.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 奎
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 奎 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.
奎 = 大 + 圭. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 奎
IDS Structure⿱大圭
奎Full character
=
大da4
top
圭gui1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 奎?
How to say a man's stride; a constellation in Chinese
“a man's stride; a constellation” in Chinese is奎kuí
The character 奎 (kuí) primarily refers to a man's stride or gait, symbolizing strength and assertiveness in movement. It also represents one of the constellations in Chinese astronomy, specifically the 15th of the 28 constellations used historically in navigation and astrology. This word can be encountered in both poetic and astronomical contexts.
When to use 奎
This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for literary or scholarly contexts. Be cautious of mispronouncing it with the wrong tone, as it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 奎 with similar-sounding characters, such as 魁 (kuí), which also relates to strength but has different meanings. Ensure you practice the correct tone and context to avoid miscommunication.
Write 奎
奎
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Practice writing 奎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 奎
奎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加____宁水的杜松子酒。
Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.
Example sentences for 奎 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
méi lì shā xiàng hē níng méng qìshuǐ yíyàng dà kǒu dì hē zhe jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zi jiǔ。
Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.
2
他正在大口喝着今天的第10杯加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
tā zhèngzài dà kǒu hē zhe jīntiān de dì10 bēi jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zi jiǔ。
He was knocking back his 10th gin and tonic of the day.
3
杰奎琳可不想再蹲一阵子监狱。
jié kuí lín kě bù xiǎng zài dūn yízhèn zi jiānyù。
Jacqueline is not relishing the prospect of another spell in prison.
4
三度获得世界冠军的尼尔森·皮奎特受了重伤。
sān dù huòdé shìjiè guànjūn de ní ěr sēn· pí kuí tè shòu le zhòngshāng。
Nelson Piquet, three times world champion, was grievously injured.
5
她继续安静地小口抿着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
tā jìxù ānjìng dì xiǎo kǒu mǐn zhe jiā kuí níng shuǐ de dù sōng zi jiǔ。
She carried on serenely sipping her gin and tonic.
