Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
赜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
abstruse, deep, profoundg, 15 strokes, radical 臣, Very Hard
mysteriousunknown, 15 strokes, radical 臣, Very Hard
(ze2) T2
  1. 1abstruse, deep, profound
  2. 2mysterious
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(賾)(ze2)

The character 赜 (zé) refers to something that is profound, deep, or abstruse, often implying a sense of mystery or complexity. It can be used in contexts where ideas, concepts, or thoughts require careful contemplation or are not easily understood.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The character 赜 is often used in classical Chinese literature and philosophy, reflecting the depth of thought found in traditional Chinese scholarship and the appreciation for knowledge that is not immediately accessible.

Memory Tip

Imagine a deep, dark well that represents profound knowledge. The character 赜, with its components, can be visualized as a well that is not just deep but also has a mysterious aura, inviting you to explore its depths.

Meanings of 赜

(ze2)
1abstruse, deep, profound
2mysterious
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 赜

Simplified
Traditional
15Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 赜

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 赜

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a deep, dark well that represents profound knowledge. The character 赜, with its components, can be visualized as a well that is not just deep but also has a mysterious aura, inviting you to explore its depths.

Usage Notes

赜 is not commonly used in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in literary or philosophical contexts. Be cautious with its tone; it is pronounced in the second tone (zé), which can be confused with the first tone (zē) if mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Though 赜 is not included in the HSK levels, it serves as an interesting example of more advanced vocabulary. Students at HSK Level 5 or higher can focus on understanding its nuanced meanings and its usage in complex texts.

Cultural Note

The character 赜 is often used in classical Chinese literature and philosophy, reflecting the depth of thought found in traditional Chinese scholarship and the appreciation for knowledge that is not immediately accessible.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 赜 with similar-sounding characters. For example, using 赜 when they mean 则 (zé, which means 'then' or 'to follow') is a common error. Always ensure you are using the correct character based on context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 赜

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 赜

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

minister

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 赜?

Decomposition of 赜

IDS Structure⿰臣责
Full Character
=
Chen2
left
ze2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 赜?

Write 赜

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 赜

🏮Cultural insight

The character 赜 is often used in classical Chinese literature and philosophy, reflecting the depth of thought found in traditional Chinese scholarship and the appreciation for knowledge that is not immediately accessible.

Word Family of 赜

Words Containing This Character1
mysterious
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 赜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 赜

No, 赜 is primarily found in literary or academic contexts.