Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
熄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
熄
xī
to extinguish
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to put out (fire)
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to quench
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to stop burning
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to go out (of fire, lamp etc)
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to come to an end
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to wither away
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to die out
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
Taiwan pr. [xí]
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
to extinguish, to put out, to quench
v, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
熄
xī
Taiwan pr. [xi2]
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 火, rank #11607, Very Hard
xī(xi1)xi T1
1to extinguish
2to put out (fire)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
熄xī(xi1)
The character 熄 (xī) means to extinguish or put out, typically in reference to fire or light. It can also imply the cessation of something, such as an end to an activity or the fading away of life. This term is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Strokes14Radical火Frequency#11607DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of extinguishing a fire can symbolize not just the end of a physical flame but also the end of a situation or emotion, reflecting a perspective on change and impermanence.
Memory tip
Imagine a bright flame that suddenly goes out (熄). The character has the radical 火 (huǒ) which means 'fire,' reminding you that this word relates to extinguishing flames. Picture a firefighter (xī) quickly extinguishing a fire to help remember the pronunciation.
Meanings of 熄
xī(xi1)
1to extinguish
2to put out (fire)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 熄 means.
About 熄
熄Simplified
14Strokes
火Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11607Frequency Rank
Podcast: 熄
Podcast: 熄
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 熄
Quick Contrast
熄 (xī) vs 灭 (miè) — use 熄 for putting out a fire or light, while 灭 indicates complete destruction or extinction.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 熄 with similar terms that involve starting something, like 点 (diǎn), which means to light or ignite. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when pronouncing to avoid misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
While 熄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other Level 3 and 4 words like 灯 (dēng - lamp) and 火 (huǒ - fire). Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially regarding discussions about fire safety or extinguishing flames.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 熄 and 关 (guān), which means to turn off. For example, saying '熄灯' (xī dēng) is correct for 'extinguishing a light,' but saying '关火' (guān huǒ) means to turn off the fire, not extinguish it.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 熄
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 熄, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 熄 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 熄?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 熄 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.
The character 熄 (xī) means to extinguish or put out, typically in reference to fire or light. It can also imply the cessation of something, such as an end to an activity or the fading away of life. This term is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
When to use 熄
Common mistakes include confusing 熄 with similar terms that involve starting something, like 点 (diǎn), which means to light or ignite. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when pronouncing to avoid misunderstanding.
熄 or something close to it
熄 (xī) vs 灭 (miè) — use 熄 for putting out a fire or light, while 灭 indicates complete destruction or extinction.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 熄 and 关 (guān), which means to turn off. For example, saying '熄灯' (xī dēng) is correct for 'extinguishing a light,' but saying '关火' (guān huǒ) means to turn off the fire, not extinguish it.
Write 熄
熄
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 熄 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 熄
熄 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 11 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
灯____了，屋里陷入一片漆黑。
The light went out, and the room was plunged into darkness.
Example sentences for 熄 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
灯熄了，屋里陷入一片漆黑。
dēng xī le， wū lǐ xiànrù yī piàn qīhēi。
The light went out, and the room was plunged into darkness.
2
飞机快到机场时，本来有故障的左引擎突然熄火，引发了灾难。
fēijī kuài dào jīchǎng shí， běnlái yǒu gùzhàng de zuǒ yǐnqíng tūrán xīhuǒ， yǐnfā le zāinàn。
The faulty left-hand engine failed catastrophically as the aircraft approached the airport.
