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翕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
翕xīto agree; to open and close the mouthv, 12 strokes, radical 羽
翕xīto open and close (the mouth etc)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 羽
翕xīfriendlyunknown, 12 strokes, radical 羽
翕xīcompliantunknown, 12 strokes, radical 羽
翕xīTaiwan pr. [xi4]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 羽
xī(xi1)xi T1
  1. 1to agree; to open and close the mouth
  2. 2to open and close (the mouth etc)
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March 24, 2026

翕xī(xi1)

The character 翕 (xī) primarily means to agree or to open and close, often in the context of the mouth or other objects. It conveys a sense of harmony or compliance, frequently used in literary or formal contexts to denote friendliness or concordance in discussions.

Strokes12Radical羽
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, harmony and agreement are highly valued, often reflected in proverbs and idiomatic expressions. The use of 翕 in discussions can symbolize a desire for unity and consensus, which is a key aspect of social interactions in Chinese communities.

Memory tip

Imagine a bird (鸟) flapping its wings (the top part of 翕) as it opens and closes its beak, harmonizing with the rhythm of nature (the bottom part represents the mouth). This visual connection helps you remember that 翕 relates to agreement and movement, pronounced 'xī'.

Meanings of 翕

xī(xi1)
1to agree; to open and close the mouth
2to open and close (the mouth etc)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 翕

翕Simplified
12Strokes
羽Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 翕

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Podcast: 翕

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AI Study Notes for 翕

Quick Contrast

合 (hé) — use 合 for 'to combine' or 'to unite', while 翕 emphasizes agreement or harmonious opening and closing.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 翕 with similar-sounding characters, particularly in casual speech. It is more commonly used in formal contexts and in written language, so be mindful of the setting when using it. Note that in Taiwan, it is pronounced as [xi4], which can cause confusion for learners accustomed to the standard pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Currently, 翕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but understanding it can enhance your comprehension of more advanced texts. Focus on recognizing its usage in literary works or formal discussions, as it may appear in idiomatic expressions related to agreement or cooperation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 翕 in informal contexts where simpler words like 同意 (tóngyì) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我翕同意这个观点' (Wǒ xī tóngyì zhège guāndiǎn) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我同意这个观点'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 翕

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Jason Explains 翕 to You

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Etymology of 翕

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

Birds 羽 flocking together 合

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 翕?

Decomposition of 翕

IDS Structure⿱合羽
翕Full character
=
合ge3
top
羽yu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 翕?

How to say to agree; to open and close the mouth in Chinese

“to agree; to open and close the mouth” in Chinese is翕xī

The character 翕 (xī) primarily means to agree or to open and close, often in the context of the mouth or other objects. It conveys a sense of harmony or compliance, frequently used in literary or formal contexts to denote friendliness or concordance in discussions.

When to use 翕

Learners often confuse 翕 with similar-sounding characters, particularly in casual speech. It is more commonly used in formal contexts and in written language, so be mindful of the setting when using it. Note that in Taiwan, it is pronounced as [xi4], which can cause confusion for learners accustomed to the standard pronunciation.

翕 or something close to it

合 (hé) — use 合 for 'to combine' or 'to unite', while 翕 emphasizes agreement or harmonious opening and closing.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 翕 in informal contexts where simpler words like 同意 (tóngyì) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我翕同意这个观点' (Wǒ xī tóngyì zhège guāndiǎn) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我同意这个观点'.

Write 翕

翕

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

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Grammar Patterns of 翕

翕 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 5 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我转过身厌恶地看着杰基,鼻翼呼呼地____动着。

I turned to Jacky, my nostrils flaring in disgust.

Example Sentences for 翕 (1)

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1
我转过身厌恶地看着杰基,鼻翼呼呼地翕动着。

wǒ zhuǎn guò shēn yàn è dì kàn zháo jié jī, , bí yì hū hū dì xī dòng。

I turned to Jacky, my nostrils flaring in disgust.

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Word Family of 翕

Words containing this character2
翕xīfriendly
翕动to open and close (the mouth etc)翕動
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 翕

What does 翕动 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 翕

While 翕 emphasizes agreement and harmony, synonyms like 同意 (tóngyì) focus more on explicit agreement. Understanding the nuance can help you choose the right word based on context.

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