Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
戏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
戏
xì
trick
HSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #1444, Hard
戏
xì
drama
HSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #1444, Hard
戏
xì
play
HSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #1444, Hard
戏
xì
show
HSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #1444, Hard
戏
xì
play, show, theater
HSK 5, n, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #1444, Hard
xì(xi4)xi T4
1trick
2drama
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
戏(戯)xì(xi4)
The character 戏 (xì) refers to drama, play, or show, often used in the context of theatrical performances. It encompasses various forms of entertainment, including traditional Chinese opera and modern plays. This term is commonly encountered in discussions about cultural performances and artistic expressions.
Strokes6Radical戈Frequency#1444DifficultyHard
Cultural note
戏 (xì) is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, especially in traditional forms such as Peking opera, which combines music, vocal performance, mime, and acrobatics. Understanding this term can provide insights into China's rich theatrical history and its significance in societal celebrations.
Memory tip
Imagine a stage (the character's form) where actors are performing a dramatic play. The '戏' looks like a person (the horizontal line on top) standing in front of a curtain (the enclosing shapes), engaging in an act. Remember the sound 'xì' by associating it with 'see'—you see a performance.
Meanings of 戏
xì(xi4)
1trick
2drama
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 戏 means.
About 戏
戏Simplified
戯Traditional
6Strokes
戈Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1444Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 戏
Podcast: 戏
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 戏
Quick Contrast
戏 (xì) vs 表演 (biǎoyǎn) — use 戏 when referring specifically to drama or theatrical performances, while 表演 is broader and includes any type of performance.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 戏 (xì) with similar characters, as context is crucial for understanding. It is typically used in informal settings but can also be found in formal discussions about the arts. Common collocations include '话剧' (huàjù - spoken drama) and '戏曲' (xìqǔ - traditional opera).
HSK Study Tips
Though not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, students should connect 戏 (xì) with other related vocabulary like 电影 (diànyǐng - movie) and 音乐 (yīnyuè - music) to enhance their comprehension of cultural topics. Focus on using it in context with discussions about performance arts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 戏 (xì) with similar characters like 喜 (xǐ - to like). For example, saying '我喜欢戏' (Wǒ xǐhuān xì - I like drama) is correct, but mixing them could lead to confusion in meaning. Always pay attention to context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 戏
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 戏, 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 戏 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 戏?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 戏 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.
The character 戏 (xì) refers to drama, play, or show, often used in the context of theatrical performances. It encompasses various forms of entertainment, including traditional Chinese opera and modern plays. This term is commonly encountered in discussions about cultural performances and artistic expressions.
When to use 戏
Be careful not to confuse 戏 (xì) with similar characters, as context is crucial for understanding. It is typically used in informal settings but can also be found in formal discussions about the arts. Common collocations include '话剧' (huàjù - spoken drama) and '戏曲' (xìqǔ - traditional opera).
戏 or something close to it
戏 (xì) vs 表演 (biǎoyǎn) — use 戏 when referring specifically to drama or theatrical performances, while 表演 is broader and includes any type of performance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 戏 (xì) with similar characters like 喜 (xǐ - to like). For example, saying '我喜欢戏' (Wǒ xǐhuān xì - I like drama) is correct, but mixing them could lead to confusion in meaning. Always pay attention to context.
Write 戏
戏
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 戏 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 戏
戏 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). 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.
zhè shì yī xiàng díquè yǐ shīqù le mèilì de yóuxì。
It's a game that has really lost its allure.
8
她梦想成为马戏团中的一名无鞍马骑手。
tā mèngxiǎng chéngwéi mǎxì tuán zhōng de yī míng wú ān mǎ qíshǒu。
She dreamed of being a bareback rider in a circus.
9
她因在百老汇出演了一部诺埃尔·科沃德的戏一炮而红。
tā yīn zài bǎi lǎo huì chūyǎn le yī bù nuò āi ěr· kē wò dé de xì yī bāo ér hóng。
She shot to stardom on Broadway in a Noel Coward play.
10
凡是被抓住的孩子在课间游戏时要被留在屋里。
fánshì bèi zhuāzhù de háizi zài kè jiān yóuxì shí yào bèi liú zài wū lǐ。
Any child who is caught will be kept in at playtime.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 戏?
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 戏
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, traditional performances like Peking opera are a form of 戏 that combines music, vocal performance, mime, and acrobatics. These performances often depict historical stories and legends.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, drama often emphasizes the written script and character development, whereas in Chinese culture, drama can be more focused on the performance style and visual elements, such as elaborate costumes and stylized movements.
Word Family of 戏
Words containing this character20
游戏yóuxìgame遊戲
戏xìtrick戲
戏剧xìjùdrama戲劇
演戏yǎnxìto perform演戲
把戏bǎxìacrobatics把戲
马戏团mǎxìtuáncircus馬戲團
没戏méixìno way沒戲
拍戏pāixìto shoot a movie拍戲
戏剧性xìjùxìngdramatic戲劇性
调戏tiáoxìto dally調戲
游戏机yóuxìjīvideo game遊戲機
戏曲xìqǔChinese opera戲曲
戏院xìyuàntheater戲院
戏弄xìnòngto tease戲弄
嬉戏xīxìfun嬉戲
戏法xìfǎmagic trick戲法
重头戏zhòngtóuxìopera rich in singing and dancing重頭戲
儿戏érxìchild's play兒戲
电子游戏diànzǐyóuxìcomputer and video games電子遊戲
戏称xìchēngto jokingly call戲稱
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 戏
What does 游戏 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 戏
戏 (xì) generally refers to plays and the act of performing, while 剧 (jù) often denotes a more structured form of drama, such as a script or a specific genre. In some contexts, 剧 can refer to television dramas or movies, whereas 戏 is more related to live performances.
戏 is pronounced as 'xì' in Mandarin. The pronunciation uses the fourth tone, which is a falling tone, so it's important to emphasize that tone when saying the word.
戏 (xì) means 'drama,' 'play,' or 'show' in Chinese. It refers to theatrical performances or any form of entertainment that involves acting. The character can also be used in various contexts to describe a performance or a playful situation.
To use 戏 (xì) in a sentence, you might say: '我喜欢看戏' (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn xì), which means 'I like to watch plays.' It can be combined with other words to specify the type of drama or performance, such as '京剧' (jīngjù) for Peking opera.
戏 translates to 'drama' or 'play' in English, referring to theatrical performances.
You can say '我喜欢看戏' (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn xì), which means 'I like watching plays.'
While 戏 can appear in formal contexts, it is more commonly used in informal settings.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 戏?
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.
