HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kē
to knock (against sth hard)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kē
to knock (mud from boots, ashes from a pipe etc)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kē
to collide, to hit, to knock, to tap
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kè
to tap
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kè
to knock (against sth hard)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kè
to knock (mud from boots, ashes from a pipe etc)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
磕
kè
to collide, to hit, to knock, to tap
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 石, rank #6262, Very Hard
kē(ke1)
primary
T1
1to tap
2to knock (against sth hard)
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March 24, 2026
磕kē(ke1)
The character 磕 (kē) primarily means to tap or knock against something hard. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical contact, such as knocking mud off boots or tapping a surface. The nuance often conveys a sense of repeated or rhythmic striking.
Strokes15Radical石Frequency#6262DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of 磕头 (kē tóu), which literally means to knock one's head, is traditionally associated with respect and submission, often performed during important ceremonies or when greeting elders.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person knocking their boots against a stone to get rid of mud. The character 磕 combines the radical for stone (石) with a phonetic component that sounds like 'kē'. Visualize the action of knocking, and let the image of a person repeatedly tapping their boots against a hard surface help you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 磕
kē(ke1)
primary
1to tap
2to knock (against sth hard)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 磕
磕Simplified
15Strokes
石Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6262Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 磕
Podcast: 磕
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AI Study Notes for 磕
Quick Contrast
磕 (kē) vs 打 (dǎ) — use 磕 for a softer, more rhythmic knocking, while 打 indicates a stronger, more forceful hit.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 磕 (kē) with its variant 嗑 (kè), which has a different meaning and pronunciation. This character is generally informal and can be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 磕头 (to knock one's head, as in bowing) and 磕碰 (to knock into).
HSK Study Tips
HSK Level 6 includes advanced vocabulary, and 磕 is a useful word for discussing actions involving impact or contact. Students should focus on its various usages in different contexts and practice forming sentences that incorporate this verb.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 磕 (kē) with 嗑 (kè), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using 磕 to refer to the act of eating seeds instead of the intended action of knocking. Always check the context to ensure proper usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 磕
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Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 盍 represents the sound.
1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
2The sound half盍 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaystone
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 磕? 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 磕?
Decomposition of 磕
IDS Structure⿰石盍
磕Full Character
=
石dan4
left
盍he2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 磕?
How to say to tap in Chinese
“to tap” in Chinese is磕kē
The character 磕 (kē) primarily means to tap or knock against something hard. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical contact, such as knocking mud off boots or tapping a surface. The nuance often conveys a sense of repeated or rhythmic striking.
When to use 磕
Be careful not to confuse 磕 (kē) with its variant 嗑 (kè), which has a different meaning and pronunciation. This character is generally informal and can be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 磕头 (to knock one's head, as in bowing) and 磕碰 (to knock into).
磕 or something close to it
磕 (kē) vs 打 (dǎ) — use 磕 for a softer, more rhythmic knocking, while 打 indicates a stronger, more forceful hit.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 磕 (kē) with 嗑 (kè), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, using 磕 to refer to the act of eating seeds instead of the intended action of knocking. Always check the context to ensure proper usage.
Write 磕
磕
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Practice writing 磕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 磕
磕 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 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
Complete the Sentence
只用表面干净、无____碰的A级鸡蛋。
Use only clean, Grade A, perfect eggs.
Example Sentences for 磕 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
只用表面干净、无磕碰的A级鸡蛋。
zhī yòng biǎo miàn gān jìng、 、 wú kē pèngA de A jí。
Use only clean, Grade A, perfect eggs.
2
我磕到了树桩上,胫部擦破了皮.
wǒ kē dào le shù zhuāng shàng, , jìng bù cā pò le.
