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赤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
赤chìredHSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Hard
赤chìscarletHSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Hard
赤chìbareHSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Hard
赤chìnakedHSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Hard
赤chìred, scarlet; blushing; bare, nakedHSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Hard
chì(chi4) T4
  1. 1red
  2. 2scarlet
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
赤chì(chi4)

The character 赤 (chì) primarily means 'red' or 'scarlet.' It can describe colors, emotions such as blushing, and even physical states like being bare or naked. This character is often used in contexts related to color description, symbolism, and expressions of vulnerability or exposure.

Strokes7Radical赤Frequency#6412DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, red is a highly auspicious color symbolizing good fortune and joy, often used in celebrations like the Lunar New Year and weddings. The character 赤 also reflects the cultural importance of colors in conveying emotions and social contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright red apple (赤) shining in the sun, symbolizing not only the color red but also the idea of something bare, as in its unwrapped, fresh nature. The character itself resembles an open mouth (口) above a floor (土), suggesting something revealed or exposed.

Meanings of 赤

chì(chi4)
1red
2scarlet
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 赤

赤Simplified
7Strokes
赤Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#6412Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 赤

JasonAmy

Podcast: 赤

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 赤

Quick Contrast

赤 (chì) vs 红 (hóng): use 赤 for a more vivid or intense shade of red, while 红 is a more general term for red.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bright red apple (赤) shining in the sun, symbolizing not only the color red but also the idea of something bare, as in its unwrapped, fresh nature. The character itself resembles an open mouth (口) above a floor (土), suggesting something revealed or exposed.

Usage Notes

When using 赤, be mindful of its context as it can convey strong emotional connotations related to shame or embarrassment when referring to blushing. Common collocations include '赤色' (red color) and '赤裸裸' (completely naked). Remember to pronounce it with the fourth tone to avoid confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

While 赤 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to basic color vocabulary that learners encounter early on. Focus on its usage in phrases and expressions, as well as its role in idiomatic language such as '赤裸裸的事实' (the bare truth).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, red is a highly auspicious color symbolizing good fortune and joy, often used in celebrations like the Lunar New Year and weddings. The character 赤 also reflects the cultural importance of colors in conveying emotions and social contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 赤 with other colors like 红 (hóng, red) and may incorrectly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我喜欢红色的苹果' (I like red apples) is correct, but if they meant to emphasize the vividness, using 赤色 would be more appropriate: '我喜欢赤色的苹果.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 赤

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Etymology of 赤

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A person 土 whose cheeks are burning 火

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 赤?

Decomposition of 赤

IDS Structure⿱土火
赤Full Character
=
土Tu3
top
火Huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 赤?

Write 赤

赤

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 赤

赤 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 4

Complete the Sentence

贸易____字是经济快速发展带来的负面产物。

The trade deficit is the flip side of a rapidly expanding economy.

Example Sentences for 赤 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
贸易赤字是经济快速发展带来的负面产物。

mào yì chì zì shì jīng jì kuài sù fā zhǎn dài lái de fù miàn chǎn wù。

The trade deficit is the flip side of a rapidly expanding economy.
2
这表面是爱，其实是赤裸的欲望。

zhè biǎo miàn shì ài， ， qí shí shì chì luǒ de yù。

This is lust thinly disguised as love.
3
11月美国的贸易赤字扩大到75.9亿美元。

11 11 yuè měi guó de mào yì chì zì kuò dà75.9 dào 75.9 yì。

The US trade deficit widened to $59 billion in November.
4
七亿五千万的赤字莫名其妙地达到了八亿.

qī yì wǔ qiān wàn de chì zì mò míng qí miào dì dá dào le bā yì.

The 750 million yuan deficIt'somehow got rounded up to 800 million yuan.
5
近朱者赤,近墨者黑.

jìn zhū zhě chì, , jìn mò zhě.

He that lies down with dogs must rise up with fleas.
6
10万联邦公务人员将被辞退以减少赤字。

10 10 wàn lián bāng gōng wù rén yuán jiāng bèi cí tuì yǐ jiǎn shǎo chì。

100,000 federal workers will be laid off to reduce the deficit.
7
连赤手大盗费恩都在缅怀他从前睡觉的台阶和那些大空桶.

lián chì shǒu dà dào fèi ēn dū zài miǎn huái tā cóng qián shuì jué de tái jiē hé nà xiē dà kōng tǒng.

Even Finn the Red - Handed was dreaming of his doorsteps and empty hogsheads.
8
她赤裸的双脚上满是一道道的泥污，都冻得开裂了。

tā chì luǒ de shuāng jiǎo shàng mǎn shì yī dào dào de ní wū， ， dū dòng dé kāi liè。

Her bare feet were dirt-streaked and cracked with cold.
9
我穿着一件白色连衣裙，赤着脚。

wǒ chuān zháo yī jiàn bái sè lián yī qún， ， chì zháo。

I wore a white dress and was barefoot.
10
赤小豆熬成的粥又香又甜.

chì xiǎo dòu āo chéng de zhōu yòu xiāng yòu tián.

Porridge made of red beans is both savory and sweet.

Cultural Notes for 赤

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, red is a highly auspicious color symbolizing good fortune and joy, often used in celebrations like the Lunar New Year and weddings. The character 赤 also reflects the cultural importance of colors in conveying emotions and social contexts.

Word Family of 赤

Compounds18
赫He4bright, radiant, glowing
赦she4to forgive, to pardon, to remit
郝Hao3a place in Shanxi province; surname
哧chi1the sound of ripping or giggling
赭zhe3hematite; ochre, reddish-brown
赧nan3to blush, to turn red
焃
赪
赯
頳
捇
浾
硳
赥
赨
赩
赬
赮
Words Containing This Character20
赤chìred
赤裸naked
赤裸裸bare
赤字chìzìred letter
赤脚barefoot赤腳
赤道chìdàoequator (of the earth or astronomical body)
赤手空拳unarmed and defenseless
赤壁Chibi county level city in Xianning 咸宁市, Hubei
努尔哈赤Nurhaci (1559-1626), founder and first Khan of the Manchu Later Jin dynasty 後金|后金 (from 1616)努爾哈赤
赤膊bare to the waist
面红耳赤miànhóngěrchìflushed with anger (or excitement)面紅耳赤
赤诚utterly sincere赤誠
赤水Chishui county level city in Zun'yi 遵義|遵义[Zūn​yì], Guizhou
赤脚医生barefoot doctor赤腳醫生
赤峰Chifeng prefecture-level city in Inner Mongolia
赤足barefoot
赤条条stark naked赤條條
赤潮algal bloom
赤贫poverty-stricken赤貧
赤膊上阵fig. to go all out赤膊上陣
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 赫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 赤

Common phrases include '赤色' (red color) and '赤裸裸' (completely naked).