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哲学 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
哲学zhéxuéphilosophyHSK 5, n, 18 strokes, rank #6694, Hard
zhéxué(zhe2xue2)zhe xue T2
  1. 1philosophy
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March 24, 2026

哲学(哲學)zhéxué(zhe2xue2)

哲学 (zhéxué) refers to the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is often used in academic contexts, particularly in discussions related to ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. The term conveys a sense of deep contemplation and systematic thinking.

Strokes18Frequency#6694DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

Philosophy plays a significant role in Chinese culture, with historical figures like Confucius and Laozi contributing greatly to philosophical thought. The study of 哲学 often reflects traditional Chinese values and the importance of moral reasoning.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise philosopher sitting under a tree (the radical 哲 represents wisdom) pondering life's big questions. The character 学 (xué) means 'study' or 'learning', and together they form the image of someone deeply engaged in the pursuit of knowledge about life’s mysteries.

Meanings of 哲学

zhéxué(zhe2xue2)
1philosophy
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 哲学

哲学Simplified
哲學Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6694Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 哲学

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Podcast: 哲学

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AI Study Notes for 哲学

Quick Contrast

伦理学 (lúnlǐxué) - use 哲学 when discussing broader theoretical frameworks, while 伦理学 is more specific to moral principles.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 哲学 with 逻辑 (luójí), which means logic; while related, they focus on different aspects of reasoning. 哲学 is typically used in formal academic contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 哲学家 (philosopher) and 哲学思想 (philosophical thought).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 哲学 connects with other abstract concepts such as 理论 (lǐlùn, theory) and 思想 (sīxiǎng, thought). Focus on using it in sentences that discuss academic subjects or personal beliefs to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 哲学, saying 'zhe1 xue2' instead of the correct 'zhé2 xué2'. Additionally, some may confuse it with 伦理学 (lúnlǐxué), which specifically means ethics, whereas 哲学 covers a broader range of philosophical inquiries.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 哲学

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Component Characters

哲zhéphilosophy
HSK 510 strokes口
View full entry
学xuéto learn
HSK 18 strokes子
View full entry

How to say philosophy in Chinese

“philosophy” in Chinese is哲学zhéxué

哲学 (zhéxué) refers to the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is often used in academic contexts, particularly in discussions related to ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. The term conveys a sense of deep contemplation and systematic thinking.

When to use 哲学

Be careful not to confuse 哲学 with 逻辑 (luójí), which means logic; while related, they focus on different aspects of reasoning. 哲学 is typically used in formal academic contexts, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 哲学家 (philosopher) and 哲学思想 (philosophical thought).

哲学 or something close to it

伦理学 (lúnlǐxué) - use 哲学 when discussing broader theoretical frameworks, while 伦理学 is more specific to moral principles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 哲学, saying 'zhe1 xue2' instead of the correct 'zhé2 xué2'. Additionally, some may confuse it with 伦理学 (lúnlǐxué), which specifically means ethics, whereas 哲学 covers a broader range of philosophical inquiries.

Write 哲学

哲
学

Practice writing 哲学 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 哲学

哲学 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____家们并未怎么关注这一观点。

The idea has been given short shrift by philosophers.

Example Sentences for 哲学 (3)

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1
哲学家们并未怎么关注这一观点。

zhé xué jiā mén bìng wèi zěn mó guān zhù zhè yī guān diǎn。

The idea has been given short shrift by philosophers.
2
或然性和自由意志这两个哲学问题是紧密相关的。

huò rán xìng hé zì yóu yì zhì zhè liǎng gè zhé xué wèn tí shì jǐn mì xiāng guān de。

The philosophical problems of chance and of free will are closely related.
3
在中世纪, 哲学与神学是不分的.

zài zhōng shì jì, , zhé xué yǔ shén xué shì bù fēn.

In the Middle Ages, philosophy and theology were inextricable.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 哲学

It is pronounced as 'zhéxué', with the first syllable having a rising tone and the second syllable having a falling tone.

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