Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
綺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
fine silk; elegant, beautifulx, 14 strokes, radical 糹, Very Hard
(qi3) T3
  1. 1fine silk; elegant, beautiful
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(qi3)

The character 綺 (qǐ) refers to fine silk, often associated with elegance and beauty. It is commonly used in literary contexts to describe something that is exquisite or aesthetically pleasing, such as clothing or art.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, silk has a rich history and is associated with luxury and refinement. The use of 綺 in poetry and literature reflects the appreciation for beauty and the finer things in life.

Memory Tip

Think of 綺 as a beautiful silk fabric draping gracefully. The left part, 糸 (mì), represents silk or thread, while the right part, 奇 (qí), means 'strange' or 'wonderful.' Together, they evoke the image of wonderful silk, helping you remember both its sound and meaning.

Meanings of 綺

(qi3)
1fine silk; elegant, beautiful
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 綺

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 綺

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 綺

Quick Contrast

綺 (qǐ) vs 美 (měi) — use 綺 when specifically referring to fine silk or elegance, while 美 is a more general term for beauty.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 綺 as a beautiful silk fabric draping gracefully. The left part, 糸 (mì), represents silk or thread, while the right part, 奇 (qí), means 'strange' or 'wonderful.' Together, they evoke the image of wonderful silk, helping you remember both its sound and meaning.

Usage Notes

This character is more formal and often found in literary or poetic contexts. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding characters. Be mindful of its elegant connotation and avoid using it in casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

While not included in the HSK levels, understanding 綺 can enhance your vocabulary related to fashion and aesthetics. Connect it with other characters related to beauty, like 美 (měi) for 'beautiful' and 雅 (yǎ) for 'elegant.'

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, silk has a rich history and is associated with luxury and refinement. The use of 綺 in poetry and literature reflects the appreciation for beauty and the finer things in life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 綺 with related characters due to the similar pronunciation and appearance. For example, using 綺 when describing something ordinary can be incorrect; instead, use 普通 (pǔtōng) for 'ordinary.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 綺

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 綺

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 纟 represents the meaning and 奇 represents the sound. Simplified form of 綺.

Memory Hint

silk

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 綺?

Decomposition of 綺

IDS Structure⿰糹奇
Full Character
=
si1
left
ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 綺?

Write 綺

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 綺

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, silk has a rich history and is associated with luxury and refinement. The use of 綺 in poetry and literature reflects the appreciation for beauty and the finer things in life.

Word Family of 綺

Words Containing This Character3
beautiful
绮丽beautiful綺麗
绮罗beautiful silk fabrics綺羅
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 绮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 綺

You can use 綺 in literary or formal contexts to describe beautiful fabrics or art, but it's less common in everyday conversation.