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郄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
郄xìsurnamezg, 8 strokes, radical 阝
郄qièsurnamezg, 8 strokes, radical 阝
qiè(qie4)qie
primary
T4
  1. 1surname
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March 24, 2026

郄qiè(qie4)

The character 郄 (qiè) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese and can be considered a variant of the more commonly used surname 郤 (Xi). It is relatively rare and may not be encountered frequently in everyday conversations or literature, but it holds historical significance in Chinese genealogy.

Strokes8Radical阝
Cultural note

Surnames in China carry significant weight, often reflecting lineage and heritage. The use of 郄 connects to historical families and their contributions, emphasizing the importance of ancestry in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'cleft' in the earth (the meaning of the character's variant 郤) where the surname 郄 stands out like a unique landmark. Picture a 'qiè' (think of 'cut') that forms this divide, helping you remember both the pronunciation and the character's context as a surname.

Meanings of 郄

qiè(qie4)
primary
1surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 郄

郄Simplified
8Strokes
阝Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 郄

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Podcast: 郄

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AI Study Notes for 郄

Usage Notes

While 郄 is a proper noun and should be used in contexts involving names, it may be mispronounced or confused with similar-sounding surnames. Ensure to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings, especially in formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 郄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners to recognize less common surnames as part of understanding Chinese names. Students should focus on tone accuracy and be aware of surname variations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 郄 with similar surnames due to pronunciation. For instance, saying 'xiè' instead of 'qiè' is a common error; always use the fourth tone for 郄.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 郄

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Jason Explains 郄 to You

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Etymology of 郄

Decomposition of 郄

IDS Structure⿰⿱乂厷阝
郄Full character
=
乂yi4
top
厷gong1
bottom
阝yi4
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 郄?

How to say surname in Chinese

“surname” in Chinese is郄xì

The character 郄 (qiè) primarily serves as a surname in Chinese and can be considered a variant of the more commonly used surname 郤 (Xi). It is relatively rare and may not be encountered frequently in everyday conversations or literature, but it holds historical significance in Chinese genealogy.

When to use 郄

While 郄 is a proper noun and should be used in contexts involving names, it may be mispronounced or confused with similar-sounding surnames. Ensure to use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid misunderstandings, especially in formal settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 郄 with similar surnames due to pronunciation. For instance, saying 'xiè' instead of 'qiè' is a common error; always use the fourth tone for 郄.

Write 郄

郄

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

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Word Family of 郄

Words containing this character1
郄qièsurname Qie

Frequently Asked Questions about 郄

It primarily represents a surname and is a variant of 郤.

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