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赤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
赤
chì
red
HSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Very Hard
赤
chì
scarlet
HSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Very Hard
赤
chì
bare
HSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Very Hard
赤
chì
naked
HSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Very Hard
赤
chì
red, scarlet; blushing; bare, naked
HSK 7, vg, 7 strokes, radical 赤, rank #6412, Very Hard
chì(chi4)chi T4
1red
2scarlet
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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#6412DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 赤 means.
About 赤
赤Simplified
7Strokes
赤Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#6412Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 赤
Podcast: 赤
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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.
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).
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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Learning Lab
Knowing 赤 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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.
When to use 赤
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.
赤 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.'
Write 赤
赤
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Practice writing 赤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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)
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1
贸易赤字是经济快速发展带来的负面产物。
màoyì chìzì shì jīngjì kuàisù fāzhǎn dàilái de fùmiàn chǎnwù。
The trade deficit is the flip side of a rapidly expanding economy.
