HSK 5, nr, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #22640, Hard
慈
cí
gentle
HSK 5, nr, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #22640, Hard
慈
cí
merciful
HSK 5, nr, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #22640, Hard
慈
cí
kind
HSK 5, nr, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #22640, Hard
慈
cí
humane
HSK 5, nr, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #22640, Hard
cí(ci2) T2
1compassionate
2gentle
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March 24, 2026
慈cí(ci2)
The character 慈 (cí) conveys a sense of compassion, gentleness, and kindness. It is often used to describe someone who is merciful or has a nurturing disposition. Common contexts include discussing a person's character traits or describing acts of kindness towards others.
Strokes13Radical心Frequency#22640DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 慈 is often associated with maternal love and is seen in various teachings, including Confucianism, where kindness is a valued trait. Celebrations like Mother's Day emphasize the importance of 慈 in familial relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gentle mother caressing her child with a soft touch, representing the compassion embodied in the character 慈. The radical 心 (xīn), meaning 'heart', is present, emphasizing the emotional aspect of kindness. Think of 'cí' as 'see' the heart, reminding you to be compassionate.
Meanings of 慈
cí(ci2)
1compassionate
2gentle
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 慈
慈Simplified
13Strokes
心Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#22640Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 慈
Podcast: 慈
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AI Study Notes for 慈
Quick Contrast
慈 (cí) vs 仁 (rén) — use 慈 for gentle compassion, while 仁 emphasizes benevolence and moral virtue.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 慈 with similar words like 仁 (rén), which also means kindness but has a more philosophical connotation. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but tends to appear more in literary or moral discussions.
HSK Study Tips
While 慈 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to characters at the HSK 4 and 5 levels that involve emotions and human relationships. Focus on understanding its usage in phrases related to compassion and kindness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 慈 as 恤 (xù), which means to care for but lacks the same gentle nuance. Remember that 慈 specifically emphasizes compassion and kindness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慈
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2The sound half兹 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayheart
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 慈? 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 慈?
Decomposition of 慈
IDS Structure⿱兹心
慈Full Character
=
兹zi1
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 慈?
How to say compassionate in Chinese
“compassionate” in Chinese is慈cí
The character 慈 (cí) conveys a sense of compassion, gentleness, and kindness. It is often used to describe someone who is merciful or has a nurturing disposition. Common contexts include discussing a person's character traits or describing acts of kindness towards others.
When to use 慈
Learners often confuse 慈 with similar words like 仁 (rén), which also means kindness but has a more philosophical connotation. This word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but tends to appear more in literary or moral discussions.
慈 or something close to it
慈 (cí) vs 仁 (rén) — use 慈 for gentle compassion, while 仁 emphasizes benevolence and moral virtue.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 慈 as 恤 (xù), which means to care for but lacks the same gentle nuance. Remember that 慈 specifically emphasizes compassion and kindness.
Write 慈
慈
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Practice writing 慈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 慈
慈 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 5 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
Complete the Sentence
地方法官承认该____善机构有理由提起诉讼。
The magistrates granted that the charity was justified in bringing the action.
Example Sentences for 慈 (10)
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1
地方法官承认该慈善机构有理由提起诉讼。
dì fāng fǎ guān chéng rèn gāi cí shàn jī gòu yǒu lǐ yóu tí qǐ sù sòng。
The magistrates granted that the charity was justified in bringing the action.
2
普里莫·德里韦拉本人是个仁慈而真诚的家长式人物。
pǔ lǐ mò· · dé lǐ wéi lā běn rén shì gè rén cí ér zhēn chéng de jiā cháng shì rén。
Primo de Rivera himself was a benevolent and sincere paternalist.
3
他已设立了两个慈善信托机构。
tā yǐ shè lì le liǎng gè cí shàn xìn tuō jī gòu。
He had set up two charitable trusts.
4
那是慈母般关爱与宽容的了不起的表现。
nà shì cí mǔ bān guān ài yǔ kuān róng de le bù qǐ de biǎo xiàn。
It was an incredible display of motherly love and forgiveness.
5
达德利先生已承诺将任何所获的损害赔偿额都捐给慈善机构。
dá dé lì xiān shēng yǐ chéng nuò jiāng rèn hé suǒ huò de sǔn hài péi cháng é dū juān gěi cí shàn jī gòu。
Mr Dudley has pledged to give any award to charity.
