Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
七 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
七
qī
seven
HSK 1, m, 2 strokes, radical 一, rank #1419, Easy
七
qī
7
HSK 1, m, 2 strokes, radical 一, rank #1419, Easy
qī(qi1)qi T1
1seven
27
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
七qī(qi1)
The character 七 (qī) represents the number seven. It is commonly used in counting and in contexts such as dates, age, or quantity. Understanding this character is fundamental for basic numeracy in Mandarin.
Strokes2Radical一Frequency#1419DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the number seven is often associated with good luck and is significant in various traditions, including the celebration of the Qixi Festival, which is sometimes called 'Chinese Valentine's Day'.
Memory tip
Imagine the character 七 as a stylized figure holding a staff, representing the idea of 'seven' as a distinct group or unit. Visualize the number seven as a lucky number often associated with good fortune in various cultures.
Meanings of 七
qī(qi1)
1seven
27
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 七 means.
About 七
七Simplified
2Strokes
一Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#1419Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 七
Podcast: 七
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 七
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 七 with other similar-looking characters like ‘二’ (èr, two) or ‘十’ (shí, ten). It's important to practice writing and pronouncing it correctly to avoid misunderstandings. Common collocations include phrases like ‘七天’ (qī tiān, seven days) and ‘七岁’ (qī suì, seven years old).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 七 is foundational for learners starting with numbers. Students should focus on recognizing this character in written form and practicing its pronunciation alongside other basic numbers.
Common Mistakes
A frequent mistake is writing 七 as ‘十’ (shí) due to similarity. Remember that 七 has a horizontal line at the top, while 十 has a cross shape. Also, mispronouncing it as 'qi' without the tone can lead to confusion.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 七
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 七, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 七 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 七?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 七 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 七 (qī) represents the number seven. It is commonly used in counting and in contexts such as dates, age, or quantity. Understanding this character is fundamental for basic numeracy in Mandarin.
When to use 七
Learners often confuse 七 with other similar-looking characters like ‘二’ (èr, two) or ‘十’ (shí, ten). It's important to practice writing and pronouncing it correctly to avoid misunderstandings. Common collocations include phrases like ‘七天’ (qī tiān, seven days) and ‘七岁’ (qī suì, seven years old).
What learners get wrong
A frequent mistake is writing 七 as ‘十’ (shí) due to similarity. Remember that 七 has a horizontal line at the top, while 十 has a cross shape. Also, mispronouncing it as 'qi' without the tone can lead to confusion.
Write 七
七
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 七 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 七
七 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. 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.
He works obsessively from 15 am to 9 or 10 at night.
9
书本经常乱七八糟地堆在地板上。
shū běn jīngcháng luànqībāzāo dì duī zài dìbǎn shàng。
Books are often stacked in higgledy-piggledy piles on the floor.
10
她看着乱七八糟地塞在书架上的那些书。
tā kàn zhe luànqībāzāo dì sāi zài shūjià shàng de nàxiē shū。
She looked at the books jammed haphazardly in the shelves.
11
我有七个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu qī gè píngguǒ.
I have seven apples.
12
今天是七号。
Jīntiān shì qī hào.
Today is the seventh.
13
他每天早上七点起床。
Tā měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.
He gets up at seven every morning.
14
我们班有七个学生。
Wǒmen bān yǒu qī gè xuéshēng.
There are seven students in our class.
15
今天是星期七，我们要去公园。
Jīntiān shì xīngqī qī, wǒmen yào qù gōngyuán.
Today is Sunday, we are going to the park.
16
我已经喝了七杯水。
Wǒ yǐjīng hē le qī bēi shuǐ.
I have already drunk seven cups of water.
17
我有七个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu qī gè píngguǒ.
I have seven apples.
18
今天是七号。
Jīntiān shì qī hào.
Today is the seventh.
19
他每天早上七点起床。
Tā měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.
He gets up at seven every morning.
20
我们班有七个学生。
Wǒmen bān yǒu qī gè xuéshēng.
There are seven students in our class.
21
今天是星期七，我们要去公园。
Jīntiān shì xīngqī qī, wǒmen yào qù gōngyuán.
Today is Sunday, we are going to the park.
22
我已经喝了七杯水。
Wǒ yǐjīng hē le qī bēi shuǐ.
I have already drunk seven cups of water.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 七?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 七
Compounds2
叱chìto scold, to upbraid; to shout at
柒qīseven (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)
Words containing this character20
七qī7
七月qīyuèJuly
乱七八糟luànqībāzāoat sixes and sevens亂七八糟
七星qīxīngQixing district of Guilin city 桂林市[Guìlínshì], Guangxi
七夕qīxīgirls' festival
七月份qīyuèfènJuly
十七shíqī17
七嘴八舌qīzuǐbāshélively discussion with everybody talking at once
横七竖八héngqīshùbāin disorder橫七豎八
七律qīlǜabbr. for 七言律詩|七言律诗, verse form consisting of 8 lines of 7 syllables, with rhyme on alternate lines
七零八落qīlíngbāluò(idiom) everything broken and in disorder
杂七杂八záqīzábāan assortment雜七雜八
七上八下qīshàngbāxiàat sixes and sevens
七十qīshí70
七窍qīqiàothe seven apertures of the human head: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, 1 mouth七竅
田七tiánqīpseudo-ginseng
七情qīqíngseven emotional states
不管三七二十一bùguǎnsānqī’èrshíyīregardless of the consequences
七台河qītáihéQitaihe prefecture level city, Heilongjiang province
七七事变qīqīshìbiànMarco Polo Bridge Incident of 7th July 1937, regarded as the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War 抗日戰爭|抗日战争[KàngRìZhànzhēng]七七事變
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 七
What does 叱 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 七
The pronunciation is 'qī', with a high, level tone. Make sure not to drop the tone or pronounce it with a rising or falling intonation.
Yes, 七 is commonly used in phrases like '七月' (qī yuè, July) and '七个' (qī ge, seven pieces).
It's beneficial to learn 一 (yī, one), 二 (èr, two), 三 (sān, three), and 十 (shí, ten) as they are all foundational numbers.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 七?
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.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
