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笛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
笛
dí
bamboo flute; whistle
HSK 6, nr, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #10414, Hard
笛
dí
flute
HSK 6, unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #10414, Hard
dí(di2)di T2
1bamboo flute; whistle
2flute
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March 24, 2026
笛dí(di2)
The character 笛 (dí) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bamboo flute or whistle. It is commonly used in Chinese music and can evoke a sense of nostalgia or traditional culture, as it is often associated with folk music and festivals.
Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#10414DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, the bamboo flute plays an essential role in folk music and is often used in storytelling and performances during festivals, symbolizing harmony with nature.
Memory tip
Imagine a bamboo flute (笛) that sounds like 'dee' when played. The character has a bamboo radical (竹), representing the material it is made from, and a sound component that hints at the music it produces. Picture a serene scene where a musician plays the flute near a tranquil river.
Meanings of 笛
dí(di2)
1bamboo flute; whistle
2flute
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 笛 means.
About 笛
笛Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1
Podcast: 笛
Podcast: 笛
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AI study notes for 笛
Quick Contrast
笙 (shēng) vs 唢呐 (suǒnà) — choose 笛 for a bamboo flute specifically, while 笙 refers to a mouth-blown reed instrument and 唢呐 is a double-reed horn.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 笛 with other wind instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. 笛 is more specific to flutes, thus it's important to use it in contexts relating to traditional music. Be aware of the tone, as mispronunciation can lead to different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 笛 is not categorized under the standard HSK levels, it is useful for students interested in Chinese music and culture. Connecting it to other musical terms like 乐器 (yuèqì - musical instrument) can enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 笛 to refer to all types of flutes, including Western concert flutes. For example, saying '我会吹笛' (I can play the flute) without specifying the type can lead to confusion; it's better to use '我会吹竹笛' (I can play the bamboo flute) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 笛
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The character 笛 (dí) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bamboo flute or whistle. It is commonly used in Chinese music and can evoke a sense of nostalgia or traditional culture, as it is often associated with folk music and festivals.
When to use 笛
Learners often confuse 笛 with other wind instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. 笛 is more specific to flutes, thus it's important to use it in contexts relating to traditional music. Be aware of the tone, as mispronunciation can lead to different meanings.
笛 or something close to it
笙 (shēng) vs 唢呐 (suǒnà) — choose 笛 for a bamboo flute specifically, while 笙 refers to a mouth-blown reed instrument and 唢呐 is a double-reed horn.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 笛 to refer to all types of flutes, including Western concert flutes. For example, saying '我会吹笛' (I can play the flute) without specifying the type can lead to confusion; it's better to use '我会吹竹笛' (I can play the bamboo flute) for clarity.
Write 笛
笛
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Practice writing 笛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 笛
笛 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 2 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
有些器乐段落谱写得非常优美，尤其是竖琴和长____的部分。
Some of the instrumentation is exquisite, particularly for harp and flute.
Example sentences for 笛 (10)
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1
有些器乐段落谱写得非常优美，尤其是竖琴和长笛的部分。
yǒuxiē qì lè duànluò pǔ xiě de fēicháng yōuměi， yóuqí shì shù qín hé cháng dí de bùfen。
Some of the instrumentation is exquisite, particularly for harp and flute.
2
远远地能听到风笛的呜咽。
yuǎnyuǎn dì néng tīngdào fēng dí de wūyè。
The wail of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance.
3
汽船向我们嘟嘟鸣笛时，甲板上的水手们饶有趣味地挥着手。
qì chuán xiàng wǒmen dū dū míng dí shí， jiǎ bǎn shàng de shuǐshǒu men ráo yǒuqù wèi dì huī zhuóshǒu。
Steamers tooted at us as sailors on deck waved in amusement.
