Meanings of 起
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 起
Podcast: 起
Podcast: 起
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 起
起 (qǐ) vs 起来 (qǐlái) — use 起 for the action of rising or starting, while 起来 emphasizes the completion of the action or the state of having risen.
Common mistakes include confusing 起 with similar verbs like 站 (zhàn, to stand) or 开 (kāi, to open), which can lead to incorrect usage in phrases. It is informal and commonly used in daily conversation, but can also appear in literary contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as it is pronounced with a third tone (qǐ).
起 is not included in the official HSK list but is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above due to its frequent appearance in daily conversations. Focus on its various meanings and uses in phrases like '起床' (qǐchuáng, to get up) and '开始' (kāishǐ, to start) to enhance your vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 起 with 起来 (qǐlái) and use them interchangeably, but 起 is used more as a standalone verb. For example, saying '我起床了' (wǒ qǐlái le) instead of '我起了' (wǒ qǐ le) can lead to awkward phrasing; it should be '我起床了' to mean 'I got up.'
Pronunciation of 起
Drill the tone of 起 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 起
Phonosemantic compound. 走 represents the meaning and 己 represents the sound.
walk
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 起
Phonosemantic compound. 走 represents the meaning and 己 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half走 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half己 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaywalk
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 起? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 起?
Decomposition of 起
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 起?
How to say to rise in Chinese
“to rise” in Chinese is起
The character 起 (qǐ) primarily means 'to rise' or 'to get up.' It is commonly used in various contexts, such as physically getting up from a seated position, initiating an action or event, or starting a journey. Additionally, it functions as a classifier for occurrences, highlighting its versatility in both everyday and formal language.
When to use 起
Common mistakes include confusing 起 with similar verbs like 站 (zhàn, to stand) or 开 (kāi, to open), which can lead to incorrect usage in phrases. It is informal and commonly used in daily conversation, but can also appear in literary contexts. Pay attention to the tone, as it is pronounced with a third tone (qǐ).
起 or something close to it
起 (qǐ) vs 起来 (qǐlái) — use 起 for the action of rising or starting, while 起来 emphasizes the completion of the action or the state of having risen.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 起 with 起来 (qǐlái) and use them interchangeably, but 起 is used more as a standalone verb. For example, saying '我起床了' (wǒ qǐlái le) instead of '我起了' (wǒ qǐ le) can lead to awkward phrasing; it should be '我起床了' to mean 'I got up.'
Write 起
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 起 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 起
起 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 17 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.
Complete the Sentence
明天他们一____去图书馆。
Tomorrow they're going to the library together.
Common Confusions with 起
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to rise"?
Example Sentences for 起 (13)
Word Family of 起
Compound Meaning
What does 起来 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 起
Common phrases include '起床' (qǐchuáng, to get up), '起来' (qǐlái, to rise up), and '起步' (qǐbù, to start off).
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 起?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.