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March 24, 2026
口气(口氣)kǒuqì(kou3qi4)
口气 refers to the tone of voice or manner of expression used when speaking. It can convey emotions, attitudes, or intentions behind the words. Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, it highlights how the way something is said can be as important as what is said.
Strokes7Frequency#7450DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the way one expresses themselves can hold significant weight, often reflecting one's respect or authority in a conversation. The tone of voice is crucial in maintaining harmony and understanding in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person speaking with a giant mouth (口) that changes its shape and sound based on their feelings. The '气' part suggests air or breath, reminding you that tone and expression are about how one breathes life into their words. Together, think of '口气' as the 'breath of the mouth' that carries meaning.
Meanings of 口气
kǒuqì(kou3qi4)
1tone of voice
2the way one speaks
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About 口气
口气Simplified
口氣Traditional
7Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7450Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 口气
Podcast: 口气
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AI Study Notes for 口气
Quick Contrast
语气 (yǔqì) refers specifically to the mood or tone in language, often in a grammatical sense, while 口气 (kǒuqì) emphasizes the manner of expression in spoken communication.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person speaking with a giant mouth (口) that changes its shape and sound based on their feelings. The '气' part suggests air or breath, reminding you that tone and expression are about how one breathes life into their words. Together, think of '口气' as the 'breath of the mouth' that carries meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 口气 with similar terms like 语气 (yǔqì), which refers specifically to mood or grammatical tone. This word is more about the overall tone in conversation. It is often used in both formal discussions and casual conversations, but the context can change its connotation.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 6, focus on using 口气 in various sentence structures to express tone in conversation. Connect it with other vocabulary related to emotions and expression, such as 感觉 (gǎnjué - feeling) and 说话 (shuōhuà - speaking) to deepen understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the way one expresses themselves can hold significant weight, often reflecting one's respect or authority in a conversation. The tone of voice is crucial in maintaining harmony and understanding in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 口气 to refer to the literal sound of one's voice rather than the emotional or contextual tone. For example, saying '他的口气很大' (tā de kǒuqì hěn dà) is incorrect; a better expression would be '他的声音很大' (tā de shēngyīn hěn dà) for 'His voice is loud.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 口气
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Grammar Patterns of 口气
口气 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.
Seven shook her head and sighed. " He's so bull - headed. Let him be.
10
四大娘和老通宝他们都放心地松一口气了.
sì dà niáng hé lǎo tōng bǎo tā mén dū fàng xīn dì sōng yī kǒu qì le.
Old Tong Bao and his daughter - in - law were able to relax a little.
11
他的口气听起来很不耐烦，我想他可能累了。
Tā de kǒuqì tīng qǐlái hěn bùnàifán, wǒ xiǎng tā kěnéng lèi le.
His tone of voice sounded impatient, I think he might be tired.
12
在会议上，他用一种非常严肃的口气提出了这个问题。
Zài huìyì shàng, tā yòng yī zhǒng fēicháng yánsù de kǒuqì tíchū le zhège wèntí.
At the meeting, he raised the issue in a very serious tone of voice.
13
她的口气中带着一丝不满，让我感到有些尴尬。
Tā de kǒuqì zhōng dàizhe yī sī bùmǎn, ràng wǒ gǎndào yǒuxiē gāngà.
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone of voice, which made me feel a bit awkward.
14
经理用鼓励的口气回答了我的问题，这让我充满信心。
Jīnglǐ yòng gǔlì de kǒuqì huídále wǒ de wèntí, zhè ràng wǒ chōngmǎn xìnxīn.
The manager answered my question in an encouraging tone of voice, which filled me with confidence.
15
他用一种调侃的口气说：“你真是个天才！”
Tā yòng yī zhǒng tiáokǎn de kǒuqì shuō: 'Nǐ zhēnshi gè tiāncái!'
He said in a teasing tone of voice, 'You're really a genius!'
16
孩子听到老师严厉的口气后，立刻安静下来。
Háizi tīngdào lǎoshī yánlì de kǒuqì hòu, lìkè ānjìng xiàlái.
The child immediately quieted down after hearing the teacher's stern tone of voice.
Cultural Notes for 口气
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the way one expresses themselves can hold significant weight, often reflecting one's respect or authority in a conversation. The tone of voice is crucial in maintaining harmony and understanding in social interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 口气
You can say, '他的口气很温和' (tā de kǒuqì hěn wēnhé) which means 'His tone of voice is very gentle.'
口气 refers to the overall tone of voice, while 语气 focuses more on the grammatical mood or tone in language.
Yes, it can describe a harsh or rude tone, such as in '她的口气很令人不快' (tā de kǒuqì hěn lìngrén bùkuài) meaning 'Her tone of voice is very unpleasant.'
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