HSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
鞋
xié
shoes, footwear in general
HSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
xié(xie2)xie T2
1shoe
2shoes, footwear in general
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March 24, 2026
鞋xié(xie2)
鞋 (xié) refers to shoes or footwear in general. It is commonly used to describe various types of shoes, whether formal, casual, or sports-related. This term is often encountered in shopping, fashion discussions, and daily conversations about clothing.
Strokes15Radical革Frequency#1238DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shoes can symbolize status and style. For instance, certain brands of shoes are seen as status symbols, much like in Western cultures, but there is also an emphasis on the practicality and comfort of footwear due to the walking habits in many cities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shoe (鞋) walking on a path made of 'X' shapes. The 'X' can represent the two parts of the shoe — the sole and the upper. The pronunciation 'xié' sounds like 'share,' as if you are sharing your stylish shoes with friends.
Meanings of 鞋
xié(xie2)
1shoe
2shoes, footwear in general
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 鞋
鞋Simplified
15Strokes
革Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1238Frequency Rank
双Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 鞋
Podcast: 鞋
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AI Study Notes for 鞋
Quick Contrast
靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, while 鞋 (xié) is a more general term for shoes.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using the wrong measure word; remember that '双' (shuāng) is used for pairs of shoes. This term is informal and can be used in everyday conversations, but be cautious with tone as '鞋' has a flat tone that can be confused with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although '鞋' is not on the HSK list, it is essential for HSK Level 1 and 2 students as it connects to daily life vocabulary related to clothing and shopping. Focus on its use in phrases about buying or describing shoes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鞋 with '靴' (xuē) to refer to boots, using them interchangeably. The correct usage is '鞋' for shoes in general and '靴' specifically for boots.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鞋
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How Well Do You Know 鞋?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 鞋 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.
鞋 = 革 + 圭. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鞋
IDS Structure⿰革圭
鞋Full Character
=
革ge2
left
圭gui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鞋?
How to say shoe in Chinese
“shoe” in Chinese is鞋xié
鞋 (xié) refers to shoes or footwear in general. It is commonly used to describe various types of shoes, whether formal, casual, or sports-related. This term is often encountered in shopping, fashion discussions, and daily conversations about clothing.
When to use 鞋
A common mistake is using the wrong measure word; remember that '双' (shuāng) is used for pairs of shoes. This term is informal and can be used in everyday conversations, but be cautious with tone as '鞋' has a flat tone that can be confused with similar-sounding words.
鞋 or something close to it
靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, while 鞋 (xié) is a more general term for shoes.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 鞋 with '靴' (xuē) to refer to boots, using them interchangeably. The correct usage is '鞋' for shoes in general and '靴' specifically for boots.
Write 鞋
鞋
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Practice writing 鞋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 鞋
鞋 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
This evening, a fire broke out in a shoe factory in Dobong - gu.
nshoes, footwear in general2
11
她今天穿了一双红色的鞋，很好看。
Tā jīntiān chuānle yī shuāng hóngsè de xié, hěn hǎokàn.
She wore a pair of red shoes today, which look very nice.
12
这家店的鞋子打折，买一送一。
Zhè jiā diàn de xiézi dǎzhé, mǎi yī sòng yī.
The shoes at this store are on sale, buy one get one free.
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Cultural Notes for 鞋
💡Did you know?
在中国，鞋子不仅是日常穿着的物品，还承载着文化意义。例如，红色鞋子在婚礼上是象征好运的颜色。
Word Family of 鞋
Compounds1
嚡
Words Containing This Character20
鞋xiéshoe
鞋子shoe
高跟鞋gāogēnxiéhigh-heeled shoes
拖鞋tuōxiéslippers
皮鞋píxiéleather shoes
鞋带shoelace鞋帶
运动鞋sports shoes運動鞋
球鞋qiúxiéathletic shoes
鞋底sole (of a shoe)
凉鞋liángxiésandal涼鞋
鞋跟heel (of a shoe)
鞋匠shoemaker
鞋垫insole鞋墊
布鞋cloth shoes
跑鞋running shoes
溜冰鞋skating shoes
草鞋straw sandals
冰鞋skates
破鞋broken shoes
鞋油shoe polish
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 鞋
What does 鞋子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鞋
Common phrases with 鞋 include '鞋子' (xiézi), which means 'shoes' or 'footwear,' and '运动鞋' (yùndòngxié), meaning 'sports shoes.' These phrases are useful when shopping or discussing footwear styles.
The measure word for 鞋 (xié) is 双 (shuāng), which is used to count pairs of items. For example, you would say '两双鞋' (liǎng shuāng xié) to mean 'two pairs of shoes.'
鞋 (xié) means 'shoe' in Chinese. It is used to refer to various types of footwear. The character is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when talking about clothing and accessories.
You can use 鞋 in a sentence by saying something like '我买了一双鞋' (Wǒ mǎile yī shuāng xié), which means 'I bought a pair of shoes.' Remember to use the measure word '双' (shuāng) when talking about shoes, as it indicates pairs.
鞋 (xié) refers to general shoes, while 靴 (xuē) specifically means boots.
You can say '我需要新鞋' (Wǒ xūyào xīn xié).
Yes, 鞋 is a general term that can refer to any type of footwear.
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