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March 24, 2026
秋Qiū(Qiu1)
秋 (qiū) primarily means 'autumn' or 'fall,' referring to the season between summer and winter that is characterized by cooler weather and the harvesting of crops. It can also denote the time of year associated with maturity and reflection, often symbolizing change and transition in Chinese culture.
Strokes9Radical禾Frequency#9644DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, autumn is often associated with harvest festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which celebrates the harvest moon and family reunions. This season symbolizes abundance and gratitude.
Memory tip
Think of 秋 (qiū) as a tree shedding its leaves in the fall. The character resembles a tree (木) with falling leaves, and the pronunciation 'qiū' can remind you of 'cue'—a cue for nature's transition.
Meanings of 秋
Qiū(Qiu1)
1autumn
2fall
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 秋
秋Simplified
9Strokes
禾Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#9644Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L1TOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 秋
Podcast: 秋
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AI study notes for 秋
Quick Contrast
春 (chūn) - use 秋 for the season after summer, while 春 refers to the season after winter.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 秋 is often used in a more poetic or literary context when describing the beauty of the season. Common collocations include 秋天 (qiūtiān) for 'autumn' and 秋季 (qiūjì) for 'autumn season.' Avoid confusing it with other seasons by practicing the word in seasonal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 秋 connects well with other seasonal words such as 春 (chūn, spring) and 夏 (xià, summer). Focus on using it in sentences that describe activities or changes during the autumn months to reinforce its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 秋 with other seasons; for example, saying '我喜欢秋天' (wǒ xǐhuān qiūtiān) is correct, but mixing it with '春天' (chūntiān) can lead to confusion. Ensure you practice each season distinctly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 秋
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Originally a pictograph of a cricket, since cricket chirps indicate the beginning of autumn. Later the character was reanalyzed as 禾 (grain) + 火 (fire), perhaps alluding to the red color of leaves during autumn.
Memory hint
The time of year when farmers would burn 禾 crops 火
秋 (qiū) primarily means 'autumn' or 'fall,' referring to the season between summer and winter that is characterized by cooler weather and the harvesting of crops. It can also denote the time of year associated with maturity and reflection, often symbolizing change and transition in Chinese culture.
When to use 秋
Be aware that 秋 is often used in a more poetic or literary context when describing the beauty of the season. Common collocations include 秋天 (qiūtiān) for 'autumn' and 秋季 (qiūjì) for 'autumn season.' Avoid confusing it with other seasons by practicing the word in seasonal contexts.
秋 or something close to it
春 (chūn) - use 秋 for the season after summer, while 春 refers to the season after winter.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 秋 with other seasons; for example, saying '我喜欢秋天' (wǒ xǐhuān qiūtiān) is correct, but mixing it with '春天' (chūntiān) can lead to confusion. Ensure you practice each season distinctly.
Write 秋
秋
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Grammar patterns of 秋
秋 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Pale colours are much more in vogue than autumnal bronzes and coppers.
6
她向那位漂亮的男演员暗送秋波.
tā xiàng nà wèi piàoliang de nán yǎnyuán àn sòng Qiū Bō.
She made eyes at the handsome actor.
7
春秋多佳日.
chūn Qiū duō jiā rì.
There are many fine days in spring and autumn.
8
树叶在秋日的晨曦中泛出红黄色的光。
shùyè zài Qiū rì de chén xī zhōng fàn chū hóng huángsè de guāng。
The fall foliage glowed red and yellow in the morning sunlight.
9
金秋时节略呈红黄色的树叶
jīn Qiū shíjié lüè chéng hóng huángsè de shùyè
leaves with red and gold autumn tints
10
它发生在一九八零年秋季.
tā fāshēng zài yī jiǔ bā líng nián qiūjì.
It took place in the fall of
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Cultural Notes for 秋
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, autumn is often associated with harvest festivals, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which celebrates the harvest moon and family reunions.
Word Family of 秋
Compounds27
愁chóuto worry about
揪jiūto pinch, to grasp
锹qiāoshovel
瞅chǒuto see, to look at, to gaze at
楸qiūMallotus japonicus
啾jiūthe wailing of a child
鳅qiūloach
萩qiū
偢chǒu
愀qiǎoanxious; blushing; to change one's countenance
揫jiū
湫jiǎomarsh, swamp, small pond
煍jiǎo
甃zhòu
鬏jiūcoiffure, topknot
鹙qiūwaterfowl; Garrulus glandarius
媝qiū
湬jiǎo
篍qiū
蝵qiū
踿zú
醔qiú
鍫qiāo
鍬qiāoshovel
鞦qiūleather strap; to swing
鰍qiū
鶖qiūwaterfowl; Garrulus glandarius
Words containing this character20
秋Qiūautumn
秋天qiūtiānautumn
秋季qiūjìautumn
春秋chūnqiūyear
秋千qiūqiānswing (seat hung from a frame or branch)鞦韆
中秋zhōngqiūthe Mid-autumn festival, the traditional moon-viewing festival on the 15th of the 8th lunar month
千秋qiānqiūa thousand years
荡秋千dàngqiūqiānto swing (on a swing)盪鞦韆
秋收qiūshōuto reap
金秋jīnqiūfall
中秋节zhōngqiūjiéthe Mid-Autumn Festival on 15th of 8th lunar month中秋節
深秋shēnqiūlate autumn
秋叶qiūyèautumn leaf秋葉
秋田qiūtiánAkita prefecture of north Japan
秋波qiūbōautumn ripples
秋水qiūshuǐlimpid autumn waters (trad. description of girl's beautiful eyes)
春夏秋冬chūnxiàqiūdōngthe four seasons
各有千秋gèyǒuqiānqiūeach has its own merits (idiom)
秋葵qiūkuílady's fingers
秋色qiūsècolors of autumn
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 秋
What does 愁 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 秋
Common phrases include '秋天' (qiūtiān) for 'autumn' and '秋收' (qiūshōu) for 'autumn harvest.' These phrases are often used when discussing seasonal activities or festivals.
Yes, 秋 (qiū) is used in idioms such as '秋水共长天一色' (qiū shuǐ gòng cháng tiān yī sè), which describes the beautiful harmony between autumn waters and the sky. This reflects the poetic appreciation of the autumn season in Chinese culture.
秋 (qiū) means 'autumn' or 'fall' in Chinese. It signifies the season characterized by the harvest and cooler weather. Additionally, it can be used as a surname.
You can use 秋 (qiū) in sentences to describe activities or feelings related to the autumn season. For example, '秋天是收获的季节' means 'Autumn is the season of harvest.' This word can also be used poetically to convey a sense of change.
秋 (qiū) means 'autumn,' while 春 (chūn) means 'spring.' They represent opposite seasons in the year.
No, 秋 specifically refers to the autumn season; for a year, you would use 年 (nián).
Yes, 秋 (Qiu) can also be a surname, although it is less common than others.
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