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阕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阕quèto close, to shut; watchtowerHSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕què(literary) to endHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèto stopHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèsection of a ci poemHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèclassifier for songs or ci poemsHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
què(que4)que T4
  1. 1to close, to shut; watchtower
  2. 2(literary) to end
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March 24, 2026

阕(闋)què(que4)

The character 阕 (què) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is also used in literary contexts to refer to a section of ci poetry, and can denote a watchtower. This character is less common in everyday language, often appearing in literary or poetic works.

Strokes12Radical门DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In classical Chinese poetry, the term for sections or stanzas is significant, highlighting the importance of structured expression in literature. Understanding 阕 can deepen one's appreciation for the artistic nuances found in traditional Chinese poems.

Memory tip

Imagine a watchtower (阕) that stands tall but is closed off (the closing action represented by the top component). Picture a guard shutting the gate of the tower, keeping secrets inside, which connects the sound 'què' with the image of something being secured or ended.

Meanings of 阕

què(que4)
1to close, to shut; watchtower
2(literary) to end
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 阕

阕Simplified
闋Traditional
12Strokes
门Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 阕

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AI Study Notes for 阕

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Confusion may arise from its use in poetry, so it's important to distinguish it from more common words for 'close.' Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it, as it is a fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Though 阕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with literary terms studied at higher levels. Students should focus on its poetic applications and understand its role in classical literature to enhance their appreciation of Chinese poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阕 with more common terms for closing, such as 关 (guān). For example, using 阕 in casual conversation can sound overly formal or poetic, so it's better to use 关 when talking about closing a door.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阕

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Etymology of 阕

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

gate

Semantic (meaning)门
+
Phonetic (sound)癸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

阕 = 门 + 癸. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 阕

IDS Structure⿵门癸
阕Full character
=
门Men2
enclosing
癸gui3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 阕?

How to say to close, to shut; watchtower in Chinese

“to close, to shut; watchtower” in Chinese is阕què

The character 阕 (què) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is also used in literary contexts to refer to a section of ci poetry, and can denote a watchtower. This character is less common in everyday language, often appearing in literary or poetic works.

When to use 阕

This character is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Confusion may arise from its use in poetry, so it's important to distinguish it from more common words for 'close.' Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it, as it is a fourth tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阕 with more common terms for closing, such as 关 (guān). For example, using 阕 in casual conversation can sound overly formal or poetic, so it's better to use 关 when talking about closing a door.

Write 阕

阕

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Word Family of 阕

Words containing this character1
阕quèto stop闋

Frequently Asked Questions about 阕

No, 阕 is primarily found in literary contexts and is not used frequently in daily conversation.

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