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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
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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
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AI Study Notes for 七
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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'.
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
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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.
Now he has only six or seven kissogram girls on his books.
6
墙上被人用喷漆涂得乱七八糟。
qiáng shàng bèi rén yòng pēn qī tú dé luàn qī bā zāo。
The walls have been horribly vandalized with spray paint.
7
他主审马圭尔等七人案。
tā zhǔ shěn mǎ guī ěr děng qī rén àn。
He presided at the trial of the Maguire Seven.
8
他工作极为投入，会从早上七点一刻一直干到晚上九十点。
tā gōng zuò jí wéi tóu rù， ， huì cóng zǎo shàng qī diǎn yī kè yī zhí gān dào wǎn shàng jiǔ shí。
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 jīng cháng luàn qī bā zāo dì duī zài dì bǎn 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 zháo luàn qī bā zāo dì sāi zài shū jià shàng de nà xiē shū。
She looked at the books jammed haphazardly in the shelves.
Cultural Notes for 七
🏮Cultural insight
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'.
Word Family of 七
Compounds2
叱chi4to scold, to upbraid; to shout at
柒qi1seven (bankers' anti-fraud numeral)
Words Containing This Character20
七qī7
七月July
乱七八糟luànqībāzāoat sixes and sevens亂七八糟
七星Qixing district of Guilin city 桂林市[Guìlínshì], Guangxi
七夕girls' festival
七月份July
十七17
七嘴八舌qīzuǐbāshélively discussion with everybody talking at once
横七竖八héngqīshùbāin disorder橫七豎八
七律abbr. 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(idiom) everything broken and in disorder
杂七杂八an assortment雜七雜八
七上八下at sixes and sevens
七十70
七窍the seven apertures of the human head: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, 1 mouth七竅
田七pseudo-ginseng
七情seven emotional states
不管三七二十一regardless of the consequences
七台河Qitaihe prefecture level city, Heilongjiang province
七七事变Marco 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
Compound Meaning
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.
