Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
刻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
刻
kè
quarter (hour)
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
moment
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
to carve
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
to engrave
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
to cut
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
oppressive
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
classifier for short time intervals
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
刻
kè
to carve, to engrave; a quarter hour; a moment
HSK 3, v, 8 strokes, radical 刂, rank #3513, Medium
kè(ke4)ke T4
1quarter (hour)
2moment
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
刻kè(ke4)
The character 刻 (kè) primarily means 'to carve' or 'to engrave' and is often used in contexts related to time, such as indicating a quarter of an hour. It can also imply a moment or a brief period, and is used as a classifier for short time intervals, making it versatile in both artistic and temporal contexts.
Strokes8Radical刂Frequency#3513DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, carving has historical significance, often seen in crafts like jade carving and woodblock printing, reflecting the artistry and the importance of time in daily life and rituals.
Memory tip
Imagine a skilled artisan carving a detailed design into a piece of wood, representing the act of 刻 (kè). The character looks like a person (the left side) wielding a tool (the right side) to carve out a moment in time, reminiscent of how we often mark important events in quarters or moments of significance.
Meanings of 刻
kè(ke4)
1quarter (hour)
2moment
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 刻 means.
About 刻
刻Simplified
8Strokes
刂Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#3513Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 刻
Podcast: 刻
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 刻
Quick Contrast
刻 (kè) vs 切 (qiē) — use 刻 for carving or engraving, while 切 refers specifically to cutting.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 刻 with similar-sounding words, so attention to tone is crucial. It's primarily used in formal contexts when discussing time (e.g., 一刻钟 for 'a quarter of an hour') and can also appear in artistic discussions. Be cautious not to use it incorrectly in colloquial speech.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 刻 connects well with other time-related vocabulary, such as 小时 (xiǎoshí, hour) and 分钟 (fēnzhōng, minute). Focus on understanding its usage in both timekeeping and craftsmanship to deepen comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 刻 by incorrectly pairing it with other time-related words, such as saying '刻钟' (kèzhōng) instead of '一刻钟' (yī kè zhōng). Ensure you include the correct quantifier when referring to time.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 刻
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 刻, 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 刻 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 刻?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 刻 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.
刻 = 刂 + 亥. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 刻
IDS Structure⿰亥刂
刻Full character
=
亥hai4
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 刻?
How to say quarter (hour) in Chinese
“quarter (hour)” in Chinese is刻kè
The character 刻 (kè) primarily means 'to carve' or 'to engrave' and is often used in contexts related to time, such as indicating a quarter of an hour. It can also imply a moment or a brief period, and is used as a classifier for short time intervals, making it versatile in both artistic and temporal contexts.
When to use 刻
Learners often confuse 刻 with similar-sounding words, so attention to tone is crucial. It's primarily used in formal contexts when discussing time (e.g., 一刻钟 for 'a quarter of an hour') and can also appear in artistic discussions. Be cautious not to use it incorrectly in colloquial speech.
刻 or something close to it
刻 (kè) vs 切 (qiē) — use 刻 for carving or engraving, while 切 refers specifically to cutting.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 刻 by incorrectly pairing it with other time-related words, such as saying '刻钟' (kèzhōng) instead of '一刻钟' (yī kè zhōng). Ensure you include the correct quantifier when referring to time.
Write 刻
刻
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 刻 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 刻
刻 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 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.
With almost evangelical fervour, Marks warns against deliberately seeking a tan.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 刻?
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.
Cultural Notes for 刻
💡Did you know?
'刻' is often used in time-telling in Chinese, such as '三刻' (three quarters) and '一刻' (a quarter). This reflects the importance of precise time in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 刻
Words containing this character20
时刻shíkètime時刻
立刻lìkèforthwith
深刻shēnkèprofound
刻kèmoment
此刻cǐkènow
片刻piànkèa moment
刻意kèyìmeticulous
刻薄kèbóunkind
此时此刻cǐshícǐkèat this very moment此時此刻
苛刻kēkèharsh
即刻jíkèimmediately
刻苦kèkǔhardworking
雕刻diāokèto carve
无时无刻wúshíwúkèall the time無時無刻
时时刻刻shíshíkèkèat all times時時刻刻
刻骨铭心kègǔmíngxīnunforgettable刻骨銘心
每时每刻měishíměikèat all times每時每刻
刻画kèhuàto portray刻畫
刻不容缓kèbùrónghuǎnto brook no delay刻不容緩
刻度kèdùmarked scale
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 刻
What does 时刻 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 刻
Common phrases include '刻钟' (kèzhōng), which means 'quarter hour', and '刻苦' (kèkǔ), meaning 'to work hard' or 'diligent'. These phrases highlight the versatile uses of the character in different contexts.
刻 (kè) generally refers to carving or engraving, while 切 (qiē) means 'to cut' in a more general sense. 切 is often used in cooking contexts, while 刻 is more about detailed work or time measurement.
刻 (kè) primarily means 'quarter' as in a quarter of an hour. It can also refer to a moment or time period. Additionally, 刻 can mean 'to carve', 'to engrave', or 'to cut', and it may imply something oppressive in certain contexts.
You can use 刻 in sentences to indicate time, such as '现在是三点一刻' (It is a quarter past three). To express actions like engraving or carving, you might say '他在刻石头' (He is carving stone).
You can say '一刻钟' (yī kè zhōng) to mean 'a quarter of an hour'.
While it can be, it's more commonly used in formal contexts. In casual speech, you might just say '几分钟' (jǐ fēnzhōng) for 'a few minutes'.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 刻?
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.
