Meanings of 奚
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About 奚
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Podcast: 奚
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AI study notes for 奚
Due to its literary nature, 奚 is rarely used in casual speech, which can confuse learners who might overuse it in everyday contexts. It's essential to pair it with appropriate verbs or contexts, such as '奚问' (to ask where) or '奚所' (to inquire about). The tone should always be pronounced as the first tone (xī).
Although 奚 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 5 words like '问' (to ask) and '何' (what), which are more commonly used. Students should focus on understanding the nuances of questioning in Chinese and practice using these characters in sentences.
Learners often confuse 奚 with similar-sounding words like '希' (xī, to hope) leading to miscommunication. For example, saying '我奚知道' (wǒ xī zhīdào) instead of '我怎么知道' (wǒ zěnme zhīdào) which means 'How would I know?'.
Pronunciation of 奚
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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.
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Etymology of 奚
Pictograph of a hand holding a rope tied to a slave.
Origin
What kind of character is 奚?
Decomposition of 奚
Parts
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How to say surname Xi in Chinese
“surname Xi” in Chinese is奚
The character 奚 (xī) is used primarily in literary contexts to denote questions about location, reason, or manner, such as 'where,' 'what,' 'why,' and 'how.' It can also function as a surname, Xi, which is less common. In modern usage, it often appears in formal or poetic language rather than everyday conversation.
When to use 奚
Due to its literary nature, 奚 is rarely used in casual speech, which can confuse learners who might overuse it in everyday contexts. It's essential to pair it with appropriate verbs or contexts, such as '奚问' (to ask where) or '奚所' (to inquire about). The tone should always be pronounced as the first tone (xī).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 奚 with similar-sounding words like '希' (xī, to hope) leading to miscommunication. For example, saying '我奚知道' (wǒ xī zhīdào) instead of '我怎么知道' (wǒ zěnme zhīdào) which means 'How would I know?'.
Write 奚
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Practice writing 奚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar patterns of 奚
奚 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 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我知道我确实偶尔会____落别人。
I know that I do put people down occasionally.
Example sentences for 奚 (4)
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Word Family of 奚
Words with 奚
What does 奚落 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 奚
No, 奚 is more commonly found in formal or literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
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