HSK 6, nr, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #10414, Hard
笛
dí
flute
HSK 6, unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #10414, Hard
dí(di2) T2
1bamboo flute; whistle
2flute
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
笛dí(di2)
The character 笛 (dí) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bamboo flute or whistle. It is commonly used in Chinese music and can evoke a sense of nostalgia or traditional culture, as it is often associated with folk music and festivals.
Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#10414DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the bamboo flute plays an essential role in folk music and is often used in storytelling and performances during festivals, symbolizing harmony with nature.
Memory Tip
Imagine a bamboo flute (笛) that sounds like 'dee' when played. The character has a bamboo radical (竹), representing the material it is made from, and a sound component that hints at the music it produces. Picture a serene scene where a musician plays the flute near a tranquil river.
Meanings of 笛
dí(di2)
1bamboo flute; whistle
2flute
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 笛
笛Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1
Podcast: 笛
Podcast: 笛
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AI Study Notes for 笛
Quick Contrast
笙 (shēng) vs 唢呐 (suǒnà) — choose 笛 for a bamboo flute specifically, while 笙 refers to a mouth-blown reed instrument and 唢呐 is a double-reed horn.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 笛 with other wind instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. 笛 is more specific to flutes, thus it's important to use it in contexts relating to traditional music. Be aware of the tone, as mispronunciation can lead to different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 笛 is not categorized under the standard HSK levels, it is useful for students interested in Chinese music and culture. Connecting it to other musical terms like 乐器 (yuèqì - musical instrument) can enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 笛 to refer to all types of flutes, including Western concert flutes. For example, saying '我会吹笛' (I can play the flute) without specifying the type can lead to confusion; it's better to use '我会吹竹笛' (I can play the bamboo flute) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 笛
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 笛? 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 笛?
Decomposition of 笛
IDS Structure⿱⺮由
笛Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
由you2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 笛?
How to say bamboo flute; whistle in Chinese
“bamboo flute; whistle” in Chinese is笛dí
The character 笛 (dí) refers to a type of wind instrument, specifically a bamboo flute or whistle. It is commonly used in Chinese music and can evoke a sense of nostalgia or traditional culture, as it is often associated with folk music and festivals.
When to use 笛
Learners often confuse 笛 with other wind instruments like 哨 (shào), which means whistle. 笛 is more specific to flutes, thus it's important to use it in contexts relating to traditional music. Be aware of the tone, as mispronunciation can lead to different meanings.
笛 or something close to it
笙 (shēng) vs 唢呐 (suǒnà) — choose 笛 for a bamboo flute specifically, while 笙 refers to a mouth-blown reed instrument and 唢呐 is a double-reed horn.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 笛 to refer to all types of flutes, including Western concert flutes. For example, saying '我会吹笛' (I can play the flute) without specifying the type can lead to confusion; it's better to use '我会吹竹笛' (I can play the bamboo flute) for clarity.
Write 笛
笛
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Practice writing 笛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 笛
笛 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 2 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
有些器乐段落谱写得非常优美，尤其是竖琴和长____的部分。
Some of the instrumentation is exquisite, particularly for harp and flute.
Example Sentences for 笛 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
有些器乐段落谱写得非常优美，尤其是竖琴和长笛的部分。
yǒu xiē qì lè duàn luò pǔ xiě dé fēi cháng yōu měi， ， yóu qí shì shù qín hé cháng dí de bù。
Some of the instrumentation is exquisite, particularly for harp and flute.
2
远远地能听到风笛的呜咽。
yuǎn yuǎn dì néng tīng dào fēng dí de wū yān。
The wail of the bagpipe could be heard in the distance.
