unknown, 16 strokes, radical 衤, rank #18900, Very Hard
褶
xí
Taiwan pr. [zhe2]
unknown, 16 strokes, radical 衤, rank #18900, Very Hard
褶
zhě
wrinkle, pleat, crease
n, 16 strokes, radical 衤, rank #18900, Very Hard
褶
zhě
(arch.) court dress
unknown, 16 strokes, radical 衤, rank #18900, Very Hard
褶
zhě
Taiwan pr. [zhe2]
unknown, 16 strokes, radical 衤, rank #18900, Very Hard
xí(xi2)
primary
T2
1wrinkle, pleat, crease
2(arch.) court dress
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March 24, 2026
褶xí(xi2)
The character 褶 (xí) refers to a wrinkle, pleat, or crease in fabric. It is commonly used in the context of clothing and textiles, describing the way fabric is gathered or folded. Additionally, it can also denote the architectural term for a type of court dress.
Strokes16Radical衤Frequency#18900DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese fashion, pleats and wrinkles in clothing are often associated with traditional attire, such as the qipao, where the style and cut can reflect social status and cultural heritage. The way clothing is designed can symbolize respect and elegance in various cultural events.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fancy dress with many pleats that look like waves. The character 褶 can be visualized as a wave with the top 'water' part being the 'wrinkle' and the bottom part representing 'fabric'. The pronunciation 'xí' sounds like 'she' in English, as if a fashionable lady is saying 'she loves her pleated dress'.
Meanings of 褶
xí(xi2)
primary
1wrinkle, pleat, crease
2(arch.) court dress
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 褶
褶Simplified
16Strokes
衤Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 褶
Podcast: 褶
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AI Study Notes for 褶
Quick Contrast
褶 (wrinkle) vs 皱 (wrinkle, crease) — use 褶 for pleats or folds in fabric, while 皱 emphasizes a more general crease.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 褶 with similar characters related to folds or gathers. It is typically used in formal contexts, especially in fashion or textile discussions. Be mindful of the pronunciation, as in some regions, it is pronounced [zhe2] in Taiwan, which can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 褶 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to clothing vocabulary that is essential for intermediate learners. Students should focus on its usage in describing fabrics and clothing styles, which can help expand their vocabulary in fashion contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 褶 with 皱 (zhòu), mistakenly using them interchangeably when discussing fabric. For example, saying '这件衣服有很多皱' (This piece of clothing has many wrinkles) when they mean to say it has pleats is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '这件衣服有很多褶'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 褶
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Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 習 represents the sound.
1The meaning half衤 carries the sense.
2The sound half習 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaycloth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 褶? 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 褶?
Decomposition of 褶
IDS Structure⿰衤習
褶Full Character
=
衤yi1
left
習xi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 褶?
How to say wrinkle, pleat, crease in Chinese
“wrinkle, pleat, crease” in Chinese is褶xí
The character 褶 (xí) refers to a wrinkle, pleat, or crease in fabric. It is commonly used in the context of clothing and textiles, describing the way fabric is gathered or folded. Additionally, it can also denote the architectural term for a type of court dress.
When to use 褶
Learners often confuse 褶 with similar characters related to folds or gathers. It is typically used in formal contexts, especially in fashion or textile discussions. Be mindful of the pronunciation, as in some regions, it is pronounced [zhe2] in Taiwan, which can lead to confusion.
褶 or something close to it
褶 (wrinkle) vs 皱 (wrinkle, crease) — use 褶 for pleats or folds in fabric, while 皱 emphasizes a more general crease.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 褶 with 皱 (zhòu), mistakenly using them interchangeably when discussing fabric. For example, saying '这件衣服有很多皱' (This piece of clothing has many wrinkles) when they mean to say it has pleats is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '这件衣服有很多褶'.
Write 褶
褶
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Practice writing 褶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 褶
褶 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 3 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
Complete the Sentence
在餐厅里，打____装饰物能营造雅致的氛围。
In the dining-room the draperies create an atmosphere of elegance.
