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智慧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
智慧zhìhuìwisdomHSK 5, nr, 27 strokes, rank #3327, Hard
智慧zhìhuìknowledgeHSK 5, nr, 27 strokes, rank #3327, Hard
智慧zhìhuìintelligentHSK 5, nr, 27 strokes, rank #3327, Hard
智慧zhìhuìintelligenceHSK 5, nr, 27 strokes, rank #3327, Hard
zhìhuì(zhi4hui4)zhi hui T4
  1. 1wisdom
  2. 2knowledge
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March 24, 2026

智慧zhìhuì(zhi4hui4)

智慧 (zhìhuì) refers to the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, often considered a form of deep understanding that guides effective decision-making. It is commonly used to describe both the intellectual capacity of individuals and the collective wisdom of a group or culture. This term encompasses not just knowledge, but the application of that knowledge in practical situations.

Strokes27Frequency#3327DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, wisdom is highly valued, often associated with Confucian teachings that emphasize moral integrity and sound judgment. The concept of 智慧 is prevalent in literature and proverbs, reflecting the importance of wise governance and familial respect.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise old owl perched on a branch, embodying wisdom and knowledge. The owl's '智' (zhì) represents intelligence, while '慧' (huì) sounds like 'way' in English, reminding you that wisdom guides us on our way through life.

Meanings of 智慧

zhìhuì(zhi4hui4)
1wisdom
2knowledge
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 智慧

智慧Simplified
27Strokes
—Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3327Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 智慧

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Podcast: 智慧

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AI study notes for 智慧

Quick Contrast

智慧 (zhìhuì) vs 聪明 (cōngmíng): Use 智慧 for deeper understanding and practical application, while 聪明 emphasizes quick intelligence or cleverness.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 智慧 with 知识 (zhīshi), which means 'knowledge' in a more factual sense. 智慧 is more nuanced, emphasizing judgment and understanding. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about education, philosophy, or life experiences.

HSK Study Tips

As HSK Level 5 vocabulary, 智慧 connects with other words related to knowledge and intelligence, such as 知 (zhī) and 聪明 (cōngmíng). Focus on using 智慧 in context to express deeper understanding in discussions, especially in academic or philosophical settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 智慧 to refer only to academic knowledge, neglecting its broader context of practical judgment. For example, saying '他有很多智慧' (tā yǒu hěn duō zhìhuì) is correct, while using it to mean just 'he knows a lot' would be misleading; instead, you could say '他很聪明' (tā hěn cōngmíng).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 智慧

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Component characters

智zhìwisdom
HSK 512 strokes日
View full entry
慧huìintelligent
HSK 515 strokes心
View full entry

How to say wisdom in Chinese

“wisdom” in Chinese is智慧zhìhuì

智慧 (zhìhuì) refers to the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, often considered a form of deep understanding that guides effective decision-making. It is commonly used to describe both the intellectual capacity of individuals and the collective wisdom of a group or culture. This term encompasses not just knowledge, but the application of that knowledge in practical situations.

When to use 智慧

Be cautious not to confuse 智慧 with 知识 (zhīshi), which means 'knowledge' in a more factual sense. 智慧 is more nuanced, emphasizing judgment and understanding. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about education, philosophy, or life experiences.

智慧 or something close to it

智慧 (zhìhuì) vs 聪明 (cōngmíng): Use 智慧 for deeper understanding and practical application, while 聪明 emphasizes quick intelligence or cleverness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 智慧 to refer only to academic knowledge, neglecting its broader context of practical judgment. For example, saying '他有很多智慧' (tā yǒu hěn duō zhìhuì) is correct, while using it to mean just 'he knows a lot' would be misleading; instead, you could say '他很聪明' (tā hěn cōngmíng).

Write 智慧

智
慧

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Grammar patterns of 智慧

智慧 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 4 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

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

桑塔格一直是那种兼具美貌与____的人中龙凤。

Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.

Example sentences for 智慧 (10)

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1
桑塔格一直是那种兼具美貌与智慧的人中龙凤。

Sāng tǎ gé yìzhí shì nà zhǒng jiān jù měi mào yǔ zhìhuì de rén zhōng lóngfèng。

Sontag has always been that rarity, a glamorous intellectual.
2
这是一本妙语连珠、智慧洋溢的文集.

zhè shì yī běn miào yǔ lián zhū、 zhìhuì yángyì de wén jí.

It is an anthology that crackles with wit and wisdom.
3
悉达多·高多玛(释迦牟尼之俗姓)抓住了智慧的闪现?

xī dá duō· gāo duō mǎ( shì jiā móu ní zhī sú xìng) zhuāzhù le zhìhuì de shǎn xiàn?

Could the flash of wisdom that came over Siddhartha Gautama?
4
该剧讲的是遭到背叛的痛苦,语言诙谐,充满智慧。

gāi jù jiǎng de shì zāodào bèipàn de tòngkǔ, yǔyán huī xié, chōngmǎn zhìhuì。

The play deals wittily and intelligently with the pain of betrayal.
5
他们那种质朴而富有恬静的泰然自若的神气,好象具有一种苏格拉底的智慧.

tāmen nà zhǒng zhìpǔ ér fùyǒu tián jìng de tài rán zì ruò de shénqì, hǎo xiàng jùyǒu yī zhǒng sū gé lā de de zhìhuì.

Their calm self - collectedness of simplicity seems a Socratis wisdom.
6
智慧恨恶骄傲、狂妄 、 恶道和乖翏的口.

zhìhuì hèn è jiāo’ào、 kuáng wàng、 è dào hé guāi liù de kǒu.

Wisdom hates pride and arrogance, evil be haviore and perverse speech.
7
在处理复杂问题时,领导者需要展现出非凡的智慧与决断力。

Zài chǔlǐ fùzá wèntí shí, lǐngdǎozhě xūyào zhǎnxiàn chū fēifán de zhìhuì yǔ juéduàn lì.

When handling complex issues, leaders need to demonstrate extraordinary wisdom and decisiveness.
8
在面对挑战时,智慧往往比单纯的知识更重要。

Zài miànduì tiǎozhàn shí, zhìhuì wǎngwǎng bǐ dānchún de zhīshì gèng zhòngyào.

When facing challenges, wisdom is often more important than mere knowledge.
9
他用智慧化解了这场争端,让双方达成了共识。

Tā yòng zhìhuì huàjiěle zhè chǎng zhēngduān, ràng shuāngfāng dáchéngle gòngshí.

He resolved the dispute with wisdom, allowing both parties to reach a consensus.
10
她的智慧在于能够将复杂的问题简单化,帮助团队更有效地工作。

Tā de zhìhuì zàiyú nénggòu jiāng fùzá de wèntí jiǎndānhuà, bāngzhù tuánduì gèng yǒuxiào de gōngzuò.

Her wisdom lies in simplifying complex problems, helping the team work more efficiently.

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Frequently asked questions about 智慧

智慧 focuses on the application of knowledge and experience in making decisions, while 知识 refers to factual knowledge or information.

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