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March 24, 2026
翅(翄)chì(chi4)
翅 (chì) refers specifically to wings or fins, often used in contexts involving birds or aquatic animals. This character can also represent variants of related words, emphasizing its role in describing limbs used for flight or swimming. It is a versatile term in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
Strokes10Radical羽Frequency#16118DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, '鱼翅' (fish fins) refers to shark fins, a delicacy that has sparked debates about sustainability and conservation. This highlights the cultural significance and sometimes controversial nature of this term in modern discussions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bird soaring high in the sky, its wings (翅) spread wide. The character has a wing-like shape that reminds you of the soaring flight, while the 'ch' sound in 'chì' connects to the 'ch' in 'chirp,' the sound a bird makes.
Meanings of 翅
chì(chi4)
1wings; fins
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 翅
翅Simplified
翄Traditional
10Strokes
羽Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#16118Frequency Rank
Podcast: 翅
Podcast: 翅
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AI Study Notes for 翅
Quick Contrast
翅 (wing) vs 翼 (wing, specifically refers to the wing structure of birds or aircraft) — use 翅 for general wings, while 翼 emphasizes structure.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 翅 (chì) with similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in phrases relating to animals. Common collocations include '翅膀' (wings) and '鱼翅' (fish fins).
HSK Study Tips
翅 is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects to related vocabulary about animals and nature, which are common themes in HSK materials. Focus on its usage in context to expand your vocabulary around animals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 翅 (chì) with other similar characters like 迟 (chí), which means 'late.' For example, saying '我有翅' (I have late) instead of '我有翅膀' (I have wings) is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 翅
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Phonosemantic compound. 羽 represents the meaning and 支 represents the sound. Simplified form of 翄.
1The meaning half羽 carries the sense.
2The sound half支 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywings
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 翅? 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 翅?
Decomposition of 翅
IDS Structure⿺支羽
翅Full Character
=
支Zhi1
enclosing
羽yu3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 翅?
How to say wings; fins in Chinese
“wings; fins” in Chinese is翅chì
翅 (chì) refers specifically to wings or fins, often used in contexts involving birds or aquatic animals. This character can also represent variants of related words, emphasizing its role in describing limbs used for flight or swimming. It is a versatile term in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
When to use 翅
Be careful not to confuse 翅 (chì) with similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in phrases relating to animals. Common collocations include '翅膀' (wings) and '鱼翅' (fish fins).
翅 or something close to it
翅 (wing) vs 翼 (wing, specifically refers to the wing structure of birds or aircraft) — use 翅 for general wings, while 翼 emphasizes structure.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 翅 (chì) with other similar characters like 迟 (chí), which means 'late.' For example, saying '我有翅' (I have late) instead of '我有翅膀' (I have wings) is a common error.
Write 翅
翅
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Grammar Patterns of 翅
翅 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她看见蛾子的____膀偶尔会泛光。
She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
Example Sentences for 翅 (10)
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1
她看见蛾子的翅膀偶尔会泛光。
tā kàn jiàn é zǐ de chì bǎng ǒu ěr huì fàn guāng。
She saw the occasional glimmer of a moth's wings.
2
一只鸽子从塔里钻出来，扑扑地拍打着翅膀。
yī zhī gē zǐ cóng tǎ lǐ zuān chū lái， ， pū pū dì pāi dǎ zháo chì。
A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower.
