unknown, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #68410, Very Hard
xī(xi1) T1
1understanding
2white
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
晰xī(xi1)
The character 晰 (xī) means clear or distinct, often used to describe something that is evident or easy to understand. It can also refer to clarity in terms of color, such as being bright or white. This character is less common than its variant 晰, but it carries similar meanings in contexts involving clarity and understanding.
Strokes12Radical日Frequency#68410DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, clarity and brightness are often associated with positive qualities, such as wisdom and transparency in communication, which reflect deep values in relationships and societal interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bright light (the radical '日' for sun) shining through a fog, making everything clear. The character 晰 combines the sun with the concept of clarity, making it easier to recall that it means 'clear' or 'distinct'. You can think of 'xī' as 'see' clearly.
Meanings of 晰
xī(xi1)
1understanding
2white
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 晰
晰Simplified
12Strokes
日Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 晰
Podcast: 晰
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 晰
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 晰 with its more common variant 晰 (xī), which also means clear but is used more frequently in modern Chinese. It's important to understand the context in which each character is used, as 晰 may appear in literary or classical texts. Remember that this character is typically more formal.
HSK Study Tips
While 晰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners grasp the nuances of words related to clarity and understanding. Focus on the pronunciation and the contexts in which clarity is discussed, such as in literature or formal writing.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 晰 with similar characters like 皙 or 晰, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我觉得这件事情很皙' (I think this matter is very clear) is incorrect; it should be '我觉得这件事情很晰'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 晰
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 晰 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
2The sound half析 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysun
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 晰? 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 晰?
Decomposition of 晰
IDS Structure⿰日析
晰Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
析xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 晰?
How to say understanding in Chinese
“understanding” in Chinese is晰xī
The character 晰 (xī) means clear or distinct, often used to describe something that is evident or easy to understand. It can also refer to clarity in terms of color, such as being bright or white. This character is less common than its variant 晰, but it carries similar meanings in contexts involving clarity and understanding.
When to use 晰
Learners often confuse 晰 with its more common variant 晰 (xī), which also means clear but is used more frequently in modern Chinese. It's important to understand the context in which each character is used, as 晰 may appear in literary or classical texts. Remember that this character is typically more formal.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 晰 with similar characters like 皙 or 晰, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我觉得这件事情很皙' (I think this matter is very clear) is incorrect; it should be '我觉得这件事情很晰'.
Write 晰
晰
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 晰 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 晰
晰 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.
