HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1410, Medium
吸
xī
to suck in
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1410, Medium
吸
xī
to absorb
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1410, Medium
吸
xī
to inhale
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1410, Medium
吸
xī
to inhale, to suck in; to absorb; to attract
HSK 4, v, 6 strokes, radical 口, rank #1410, Medium
xī(xi1) T1
1to breathe
2to suck in
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March 24, 2026
吸xī(xi1)
The character 吸 (xī) primarily means 'to breathe in' or 'to suck in.' It is commonly used in contexts involving inhalation, such as breathing air or absorbing substances like liquid. It can also imply attracting or drawing something towards oneself.
Strokes6Radical口Frequency#1410DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 吸 can be associated with traditional practices like tea drinking, where one might inhale the aroma before tasting. It also relates to the importance of breathing techniques in practices like Tai Chi and meditation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big vacuum cleaner (吸) that sucks up everything in its path. The shape of the character resembles the action of inhaling or sucking in, emphasizing its meaning of drawing air or substances inward.
Meanings of 吸
xī(xi1)
1to breathe
2to suck in
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 吸
吸Simplified
6Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1410Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 吸
Podcast: 吸
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AI Study Notes for 吸
Quick Contrast
吸 (xī) vs 吮 (shǔn) — use 吸 for inhaling or drawing in air, while 吮 refers specifically to sucking or licking, often in a more intimate context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big vacuum cleaner (吸) that sucks up everything in its path. The shape of the character resembles the action of inhaling or sucking in, emphasizing its meaning of drawing air or substances inward.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 吸 (xī) has a high-level tone, which can be easily confused with other characters. Common collocations include 吸烟 (xī yān) for 'to smoke' and 吸水 (xī shuǐ) for 'to absorb water.' It is typically informal and used in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 吸 is not listed in HSK levels, it connects to HSK 1 vocabulary like '呼吸' (hūxī, to breathe) and other verbs. Focus on practicing its pronunciation and usage in different contexts to strengthen your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 吸 can be associated with traditional practices like tea drinking, where one might inhale the aroma before tasting. It also relates to the importance of breathing techniques in practices like Tai Chi and meditation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吸 with other similar-sounding characters, such as 器 (qì) or 西 (xī). A common error is using 吸 when they mean 呼 (hū, to exhale), as in saying 吸气 instead of 呼气 for 'to breathe out.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吸
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Grammar Patterns of 吸
吸 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 5 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.
The centre of attraction was Pierre Auguste Renoir's oil painting.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
I held my breath and sank under the water.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 吸
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, breathing exercises are believed to help balance the body's energy, or 'qi' (气). Proper breathing techniques can enhance health and well-being.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of 吸 can be associated with traditional practices like tea drinking, where one might inhale the aroma before tasting. It also relates to the importance of breathing techniques in practices like Tai Chi and meditation.
Word Family of 吸
Words Containing This Character20
吸引xīyǐnto attract (interest, investment etc)
呼吸hūxīto breathe
吸xīto breathe
吸收xīshōuto absorb
吸血鬼leech
吸毒xīdúto take drugs
吸引力sex appeal
吸烟xīyānto smoke吸煙
吸取xīqǔto absorb
吸纳xīnàto take in吸納
呼吸道respiratory tract
吸入to breathe in
吸气to inhale吸氣
吸食to suck
吸附to absorb
吸尘器vacuum cleaner吸塵器
吸管xīguǎnpipette
血吸虫schistosoma血吸蟲
人工呼吸artificial respiration (medicine)
呼吸器ventilator (artificial breathing apparatus used in hospitals)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吸引 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吸
Yes, 吸 is used in phrases like '吸烟' (xī yān), which means 'to smoke' (literally 'to inhale smoke'). It's also part of '吸引' (xī yǐn), meaning 'to attract' or 'to draw in'.
吸 (xī) generally means 'to breathe in' or 'to suck in', while 吸入 (xīrù) specifically means 'to inhale' or 'to breathe in (something)'. 吸 can be used in broader contexts, while 吸入 is more focused on the action of inhalation.
吸 (xī) means 'to breathe', 'to suck in', 'to absorb', or 'to inhale'. It is commonly used in contexts related to breathing and consuming substances, such as air or liquids.
You can use 吸 in sentences like '我吸了一口气' (Wǒ xīle yī kǒu qì), which means 'I took a breath.' It can also refer to absorbing substances, for example, '植物吸收水分' (Zhíwù xīshōu shuǐfèn) meaning 'Plants absorb moisture.'
Common phrases include 吸烟 (xī yān, to smoke) and 吸气 (xī qì, to inhale).
Make sure to use a high, even tone (xī) to distinguish it from similar-sounding words.
Generally, 吸 is more informal, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing.
