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皮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
皮píleatherHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮pískinHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮pífurHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮pípico- (one trillionth)HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮pínaughtyHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮pískin, hide, fur, feathersHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
皮písurname PiHSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Hard
pí(Pi2) T2
  1. 1leather
  2. 2skin
Also a Chinese surname, Pi — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

皮pí(Pi2)

The character 皮 (pí) primarily refers to skin, leather, or fur. It is commonly used in contexts related to animal hides or the outer covering of living beings, and can also denote someone who is mischievous or naughty. In a broader sense, it can be used in scientific contexts, such as referring to the prefix 'pico-' in measurements.

Strokes5Radical皮Frequency#1314DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of skin (皮) is significant as it is believed to be connected to one's overall health and vitality. The quality of a person's skin can reflect their internal health, which is a common belief in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a playful dog with a shiny coat of leather. The dog’s fur is soft, just like skin, and '皮' sounds like 'pee' which reminds you of a naughty puppy getting into trouble. Visualize the puppy wearing a leather collar that represents the word '皮' and its connection to skin and fur.

Meanings of 皮

pí(Pi2)
1leather
2skin
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 皮

皮Simplified
5Strokes
皮Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#1314Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 皮

JasonAmy

Podcast: 皮

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 皮

Quick Contrast

皮 (pí) vs 毛 (máo) — use 皮 for skin or leather, while 毛 refers specifically to hair or fur.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 皮 with similar-sounding characters. It is generally informal and not used in very formal writing. Common collocations include 皮肤 (pífū - skin) and 皮革 (pígé - leather). Make sure to use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 皮 is not listed in the official HSK levels, it can be connected to other body-related terms like 身体 (shēntǐ - body) at HSK 2. Focus on recognizing how this character can be combined with others to form new words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 皮 with its homophones, mistakenly using it in contexts related to other body parts. For example, saying 皮肉 (píròu - skin meat) instead of 肉 (ròu - meat) can lead to confusion. Always use 皮 specifically for skin or leather contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 皮

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Etymology of 皮

Formation TypePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a hand (又) peeling off the skin from an animal.

Memory Hint

A hand using a tool 攴 to strip the hide from a carcass

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 皮

Pictograph of a hand (又) peeling off the skin from an animal.

  1. 1The giveawayA hand using a tool 攴 to strip the hide from a carcass
  2. 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 皮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 皮?

Decomposition of 皮

IDS Structure⿸?攴
皮Full Character
=
攴pu1
enclosing
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 皮?

How to say leather in Chinese

“leather” in Chinese is皮pí

The character 皮 (pí) primarily refers to skin, leather, or fur. It is commonly used in contexts related to animal hides or the outer covering of living beings, and can also denote someone who is mischievous or naughty. In a broader sense, it can be used in scientific contexts, such as referring to the prefix 'pico-' in measurements.

When to use 皮

Be careful not to confuse 皮 with similar-sounding characters. It is generally informal and not used in very formal writing. Common collocations include 皮肤 (pífū - skin) and 皮革 (pígé - leather). Make sure to use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.

皮 or something close to it

皮 (pí) vs 毛 (máo) — use 皮 for skin or leather, while 毛 refers specifically to hair or fur.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 皮 with its homophones, mistakenly using it in contexts related to other body parts. For example, saying 皮肉 (píròu - skin meat) instead of 肉 (ròu - meat) can lead to confusion. Always use 皮 specifically for skin or leather contexts.

Write 皮

皮

Practice writing 皮 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 皮

皮 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 7 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 1

Complete the Sentence

甲:小孩子怎么就这么调____!乙:可不是嘛,已经上小学了还这样。

A: How can kids be so naughty! B: Tell me about it — already in elementary school and still like this.

Common Confusions with 皮

皮vs披
pī

Similar pronunciation but different meaning.

皮vs毗
pí

Same pinyin but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "leather"?

or

Usage Notes for 皮

Misunderstanding '皮' in contextCommon Error

Learners often confuse '皮' when referring to skin in medical contexts versus casual conversation.

1

他皮肤很好。

His skin is very good.

2

他的皮是很厚的。

His skin is very thick.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

他____肤很好。

His skin is very good.

Example Sentences for 皮 (15)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我指甲根部的表皮龟裂粗糙,指甲被咬得参差不齐。

wǒ zhǐ jiǎ gēn bù de biǎo pí guī liè cū cāo, , zhǐ jiǎ bèi yǎo dé cān chà bù。

My cuticles were split and ragged, and my nails unevenly bitten.
2
你可能得了职业性皮肤病。

nǐ kě néng dé le zhí yè xìng pí fū bìng。

You might be having an occupationally related skin problem.
3
你得把番茄烤到皮变黑为止。

nǐ dé bǎ fān qié kǎo dào pí biàn hēi wéi zhǐ。

You need to grill the tomatoes until the skins blacken.
4
要当校长,你就得脸皮厚一些。

yào dāng xiào cháng, , nǐ jiù dé liǎn pí hòu yī。

You need a thick skin to be a headmaster.
5
最吸引人注意的是皮埃尔·奥古斯特·雷诺阿的油画。

zuì xī yǐn rén zhù yì de shì pí āi ěr· · ào gǔ sī· tè · léi nuò ā de。

The centre of attraction was Pierre Auguste Renoir's oil painting.
6
孩子们调皮捣蛋的时候她管不了。

hái zǐ mén tiáo pí dǎo dàn de shí hòu tā guǎn bù le。

When the children misbehaved she was unable to cope.
7
租约到期后,这家人搬到了坎皮格尼。

zū yuē dào qī hòu, , zhè jiā rén bān dào le kǎn pí gé。

When the lease ran out the family moved to Campigny.
8
这种树很容易辨认,因为它有着非常漂亮的银色树皮。

zhè zhǒng shù hěn róng yì biàn rèn, , yīn wéi tā yǒu zháo fēi cháng piāo liàng de yín sè shù。

This tree is always recognizable by its extremely beautiful silvery bark.
9
湿疹是一种常见的皮肤病,通常具遗传性。

shī zhěn shì yī zhǒng cháng jiàn de pí fū bìng, , tōng cháng jù yí chuán。

Eczema is a common skin complaint which often runs in families.
10
比赛开始的时候形势大好,斯皮德以一记精彩的进球先拔头筹。

bǐ sài kāi shǐ de shí hòu xíng shì dà hǎo, , sī pí dé yǐ yī jì jīng cǎi de jìn qiú xiān bá tóu。

It all started so promisingly when Speed scored a tremendous first goal.
11
皮先生是我们公司的新同事。

Pí xiānshēng shì wǒmen gōngsī de xīn tóngshì.

Mr. Pi is our company's new colleague.
12
皮先生是一位著名的考古学家,他的研究成果非常丰富。

Pí xiānsheng shì yī wèi zhùmíng de kǎogǔ xuéjiā, tā de yánjiū chéngguǒ fēicháng fēngfù.

Mr. Pi is a famous archaeologist, and his research achievements are very rich.
13
皮教授最近在国际会议上发表了重要的学术论文。

Pí jiàoshòu zuìjìn zài guójì huìyì shàng fābiǎo le zhòngyào de xuéshù lùnwén.

Professor Pi recently presented an important academic paper at an international conference.
14
皮医生在医学界享有很高的声誉,因为他的专业知识和经验。

Pí yīshēng zài yīxué jiè xiǎngyǒu hěn gāo de shēngyù, yīnwèi tā de zhuānyè zhīshì hé jīngyàn.

Dr. Pi enjoys a high reputation in the medical field due to his professional knowledge and experience.
15
皮女士不仅是一位成功的企业家,也是一位慈善家。

Pí nǚshì bùjǐn shì yī wèi chénggōng de qǐyèjiā, yě shì yī wèi císhànjiā.

Ms. Pi is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a philanthropist.

Cultural Notes for 皮

💡Did you know?

In traditional Chinese medicine, the skin is viewed as a reflection of the body's internal health. Practitioners believe that skin conditions can indicate issues with organs like the lungs and kidneys.

Word Family of 皮

Compounds53
被bei4quilt
破po4broken
波Bo1Poland
彼bi3that
玻bo1glass
疲pi2weary
披pi1to drape over one's shoulders
坡po1slope
皱zhou4to wrinkle
颇Po1surname Po
簸bo3to winnow
跛bo3lame
铍pi1beryllium
皴cun1chapped, cracked
皲jun1chapped, cracked
帔pei4cape, robe, skirt
狓
皻cu3pimples, blotches
皽
诐
陂bei1dam, embankment; reservoir
髲
鲏
佊
岥
怶
旇
柀
皯
皰pao4acne
皳
皵
皶
皷
皸
皹
皺zhou4wrinkles, creases, folds
皼
皾
秛
紴
翍
耚
蚾
詖
貱
鈹
鞁
頗po1rather, quite; partial, biased
駊
骳
鮍
麬
Words Containing This Character20
皮pískin
皮肤pífūskin皮膚
皮带pídàistrap皮帶
眼皮eyelid
皮鞋píxiéleather shoes
皮质cortex皮質
调皮tiáopínaughty調皮
真皮dermis (layer within the skin containing sense of touch)
皮革pígéleather
上皮epithelium
牛皮cowhide
皮包píbāohandbag
内皮(med.) endothelium內皮
皮球píqiúball (made of rubber, leather etc)
头皮scalp頭皮
表皮epidermis
鸡皮疙瘩goose pimples雞皮疙瘩
肚皮belly
橡皮xiàngpírubber
皮疹a rash
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 被 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 皮

皮 (pí) refers to 'skin' or 'fur,' while 皮毛 (pímáo) specifically means 'fur' or 'hair' of an animal. In other words, 皮 is a broader term that encompasses the outer layer of various organisms, while 皮毛 is more focused on animal covering.

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