unknown, 8 strokes, radical 礻, rank #49749, Very Hard
祇
qí
peace
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 礻, rank #49749, Very Hard
qí(qi2) T2
1only, just, simply; one of a pair; an earth god
2earth-spirit
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March 24, 2026
祇qí(qi2)
The character 祇 (qí) primarily means 'only' or 'just', indicating a limitation or exclusivity in context. It can also refer to an earth god or spirit, reflecting its spiritual significance in traditional Chinese culture. In certain contexts, it may imply simplicity or peace.
Strokes8Radical礻Frequency#49749DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, earth gods are revered for their role in agriculture and the prosperity of the land, which reflects the importance of nature and spiritual beliefs in traditional culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small, serene earth spirit sitting quietly under a tree, with only one leaf above it. The character 祇 resembles a 'roof' (the top part) protecting the spirit, symbolizing peace and simplicity underneath.
Meanings of 祇
qí(qi2)
1only, just, simply; one of a pair; an earth god
2earth-spirit
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 祇
祇Simplified
8Strokes
礻Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 祇
Podcast: 祇
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AI Study Notes for 祇
Quick Contrast
仅 (jǐn) - use 祇 (qí) when emphasizing exclusivity in a spiritual context; use 仅 (jǐn) for more general limitations.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small, serene earth spirit sitting quietly under a tree, with only one leaf above it. The character 祇 resembles a 'roof' (the top part) protecting the spirit, symbolizing peace and simplicity underneath.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 祇 with similar characters like 只 (zhǐ), which also means 'only' but is more commonly used in everyday speech. 祇 tends to appear in more formal or literary contexts. Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it as qí instead of the correct tonal pronunciation could lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 祇 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, its meaning can be connected to other words indicating limitation, such as 只 (zhǐ) and 唯 (wéi). Focus on understanding its usage in literary texts to appreciate its nuance and cultural context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, earth gods are revered for their role in agriculture and the prosperity of the land, which reflects the importance of nature and spiritual beliefs in traditional culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 祇 with 只 (zhǐ) when trying to express 'only'. For example, saying '我祇想要这个' (Wǒ qí xiǎng yào zhège) instead of '我只想要这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng yào zhège) is incorrect. The proper usage would be 只 for common conversations.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 祇
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Cultural Notes for 祇
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese mythology, earth gods are revered for their role in agriculture and the prosperity of the land, which reflects the importance of nature and spiritual beliefs in traditional culture.
Word Family of 祇
Words Containing This Character1
祇qípeace
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 祇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 祇
No, 祇 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation.
You can think of the character as symbolizing a serene spirit, which sounds like 'qí', to help recall its pronunciation.
Not exactly; while both mean 'only', 只 is more versatile and commonly used in daily speech.
