HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #11040, Very Hard
揭
jiē
to expose
HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #11040, Very Hard
揭
jiē
to unmask
HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #11040, Very Hard
揭
jiē
to lift off a cover; to reveal, to divulge; surname
HSK 7, zg, 12 strokes, radical 扌, rank #11040, Very Hard
jiē(jie1) T1
1to take the lid off
2to expose
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March 24, 2026
揭jiē(jie1)
The character 揭 (jiē) primarily means 'to take the lid off' or 'to expose'. It is commonly used in contexts where something is being revealed or unmasked, such as exposing the truth or uncovering hidden information. The nuance of the term often implies a sense of revelation that leads to greater understanding or awareness.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#11040DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of '揭' is often associated with revealing truths in social contexts, such as in storytelling or in historical accounts where hidden information is brought to light. This reflects a broader cultural value placed on honesty and transparency.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician revealing their secrets by lifting the lid off a box. The character 揭 is made up of the 'hand' radical (扌), representing the action of lifting, combined with the character '揭', which sounds like 'jiē'—think of a 'jewel' being revealed, emphasizing the idea of uncovering something valuable.
Meanings of 揭
jiē(jie1)
1to take the lid off
2to expose
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 揭
揭Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#11040Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 揭
Podcast: 揭
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AI Study Notes for 揭
Quick Contrast
揭 (jiē) vs 曝 (pù) — use 揭 when emphasizing the act of revealing or exposing something hidden, while 曝 suggests a more forceful exposure, often to the elements.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 揭 with similar characters like 开 (kāi), which means to open but lacks the nuance of revealing. This word is more formal and is often used in written or official contexts, especially in journalism. Be cautious of pronunciation; the second tone is crucial to convey the correct meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Though not in HSK levels, 揭 can be linked to HSK vocabulary related to revealing or uncovering, such as 发现 (fāxiàn - to discover). Students should focus on understanding how 揭 differs from other synonyms and practice using it in sentences that involve uncovering information.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 揭 with 关 (guān), which means to close, leading to incorrect phrases like 揭关 (jiē guān). The correct use should be focused on contexts of revealing or uncovering, such as 揭露真相 (jiēlù zhēnxiàng - to expose the truth).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 揭
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half曷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 揭? 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 揭?
Decomposition of 揭
IDS Structure⿰扌曷
揭Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
曷he2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 揭?
How to say to take the lid off in Chinese
“to take the lid off” in Chinese is揭jiē
The character 揭 (jiē) primarily means 'to take the lid off' or 'to expose'. It is commonly used in contexts where something is being revealed or unmasked, such as exposing the truth or uncovering hidden information. The nuance of the term often implies a sense of revelation that leads to greater understanding or awareness.
When to use 揭
Common mistakes include confusing 揭 with similar characters like 开 (kāi), which means to open but lacks the nuance of revealing. This word is more formal and is often used in written or official contexts, especially in journalism. Be cautious of pronunciation; the second tone is crucial to convey the correct meaning.
揭 or something close to it
揭 (jiē) vs 曝 (pù) — use 揭 when emphasizing the act of revealing or exposing something hidden, while 曝 suggests a more forceful exposure, often to the elements.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 揭 with 关 (guān), which means to close, leading to incorrect phrases like 揭关 (jiē guān). The correct use should be focused on contexts of revealing or uncovering, such as 揭露真相 (jiēlù zhēnxiàng - to expose the truth).
Write 揭
揭
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Practice writing 揭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 揭
揭 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
