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乞丐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
乞丐qǐgàibeggarHSK 7, n, 7 strokes, rank #9773, Very Hard
qǐgài(qi3gai4)qi gai T3
  1. 1beggar
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March 24, 2026

乞丐qǐgài(qi3gai4)

乞丐 (qǐgài) refers to a person who begs for money or food, often due to poverty or lack of resources. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, typically to describe individuals in difficult living situations who rely on the generosity of others.

Strokes7Frequency#9773DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, 乞丐 are often seen on the streets, especially in urban areas, and their presence can spark discussions about social welfare and government support systems. This reflects a complex relationship with poverty and charity in society.

Memory tip

Think of 乞丐 as a 'kid' (the '乞' part looks like a child with outstretched hands) begging for 'gai' (the '丐' part sounds like 'guy') food. Imagine a child (乞) asking a guy (丐) for help, making the connection between the character and its meaning vivid.

Meanings of 乞丐

qǐgài(qi3gai4)
1beggar
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 乞丐

乞丐Simplified
7Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9773Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 乞丐

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Podcast: 乞丐

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AI Study Notes for 乞丐

Quick Contrast

流浪汉 (liúlànghàn) refers to a homeless person who may not necessarily beg, while 乞丐 (qǐgài) specifically emphasizes the act of begging for alms.

Usage Notes

While 乞丐 is a standard term, it can carry a negative connotation in certain contexts. Be cautious of using it too casually, as it may seem disrespectful. Common collocations include phrases like '乞丐的生活' (life of a beggar) or '乞丐文化' (beggar culture).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 乞丐 connects to broader themes of social issues and economic conditions. Students should focus on using it in discussions about poverty and social responsibility, enhancing their vocabulary around societal challenges.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 乞丐 with similar-sounding terms like 乞求 (qǐqiú), which means 'to beg for something'. Remember, 乞丐 specifically refers to a beggar, while 乞求 conveys the action of begging.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 乞丐

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Component Characters

乞qǐto beg
3 strokes乙
View full entry
丐gàito beg for alms
4 strokes一
View full entry

How to say beggar in Chinese

“beggar” in Chinese is乞丐qǐgài

乞丐 (qǐgài) refers to a person who begs for money or food, often due to poverty or lack of resources. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, typically to describe individuals in difficult living situations who rely on the generosity of others.

When to use 乞丐

While 乞丐 is a standard term, it can carry a negative connotation in certain contexts. Be cautious of using it too casually, as it may seem disrespectful. Common collocations include phrases like '乞丐的生活' (life of a beggar) or '乞丐文化' (beggar culture).

乞丐 or something close to it

流浪汉 (liúlànghàn) refers to a homeless person who may not necessarily beg, while 乞丐 (qǐgài) specifically emphasizes the act of begging for alms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 乞丐 with similar-sounding terms like 乞求 (qǐqiú), which means 'to beg for something'. Remember, 乞丐 specifically refers to a beggar, while 乞求 conveys the action of begging.

Write 乞丐

乞
丐

Practice writing 乞丐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 乞丐

乞丐 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). 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.

我们是不会资助那些____的。

We are not in the business of subsidising scroungers.

Example Sentences for 乞丐 (10)

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1
我们是不会资助那些乞丐的。

wǒmen shì bù huì zīzhù nàxiē qǐgài de。

We are not in the business of subsidising scroungers.
2
那个老乞丐蓬头垢面.

nàge lǎo qǐgài péng tóu gòu miàn.

The old beggar was dirty and unkempt.
3
那个乞丐躺在大街的阴面.

nàge qǐgài tǎng zài dàjiē de yīn miàn.

The beggar was lying the shady side of the street.
4
我给了这乞丐整整一千元.

wǒ gěi le zhè qǐgài zhěngzhěng yīqiān yuán.

I gave the beggar as much as 1,000 yen.
5
丽莉受不了穷亲戚们那种乞丐般的苦日子.

lí lì shòubuliǎo qióng qīnqi men nà zhǒng qǐgài bān de kǔ rìzi.

Lily had no mind for the vagabond life of the poor relation.
6
他向乞丐丢去了几个硬币.

tā xiàng qǐgài diū qù le jǐ gè yìngbì.

He threw some coins to the beggar.
7
他丢给乞丐一便士.

tā diū gěi qǐgài yī biàn shì.

He tossed a penny to the beggar.
8
他把一枚硬币扔给那个乞丐.

tā bǎ yī méi yìngbì rēng gěi nàge qǐgài.

He tossed the beggar a coin.
9
当汤姆给他钱时, 这名乞丐很惊奇而且好像很感激.

dāng shāng mǔ gěi tā qián shí, zhè míng qǐgài hěn jīngqí érqiě hǎoxiàng hěn gǎnjī.

When Tom gave him the money, the panhandler was surprised and seemed grateful.
10
那个乞丐是个瞎子, 照例拄着一根用得很旧了的手杖棍子.

nàge qǐgài shì gè xiā zi, zhàolì zhǔ zhe yī gēn yòng de hěn jiù le de shǒu zhàng gùnzi.

He was a blind begger, carrying the traditional battered cane.

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Cultural Notes for 乞丐

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, beggars may be perceived as individuals who have fallen on hard times, while in China, the presence of 乞丐 often elicits a more communal response, with differing views on responsibility for their welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions about 乞丐

乞丐 is generally considered neutral but can be viewed as informal, so it's best used in casual discussions.

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