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阕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阕quèto close, to shut; watchtowerHSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕què(literary) to endHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèto stopHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèsection of a ci poemHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阕quèclassifier for songs or ci poemsHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
què(que4) T4
  1. 1to close, to shut; watchtower
  2. 2(literary) to end
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

阕(闋)què(que4)

The character 阕 (què) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is also used in literary contexts to refer to a section of ci poetry, and can denote a watchtower. This character is less common in everyday language, often appearing in literary or poetic works.

Strokes12Radical门DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In classical Chinese poetry, the term for sections or stanzas is significant, highlighting the importance of structured expression in literature. Understanding 阕 can deepen one's appreciation for the artistic nuances found in traditional Chinese poems.

Memory Tip

Imagine a watchtower (阕) that stands tall but is closed off (the closing action represented by the top component). Picture a guard shutting the gate of the tower, keeping secrets inside, which connects the sound 'què' with the image of something being secured or ended.

Meanings of 阕

què(que4)
1to close, to shut; watchtower
2(literary) to end
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阕

阕Simplified
闋Traditional
12Strokes
门Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 阕

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Podcast: 阕

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AI Study Notes for 阕

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Confusion may arise from its use in poetry, so it's important to distinguish it from more common words for 'close.' Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it, as it is a fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Though 阕 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with literary terms studied at higher levels. Students should focus on its poetic applications and understand its role in classical literature to enhance their appreciation of Chinese poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阕 with more common terms for closing, such as 关 (guān). For example, using 阕 in casual conversation can sound overly formal or poetic, so it's better to use 关 when talking about closing a door.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阕

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Etymology of 阕

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

gate

Semantic (meaning)门
+
Phonetic (sound)癸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 阕

  1. 1The meaning half门 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half癸 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygate
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 阕? 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 阕?

Decomposition of 阕

IDS Structure⿵门癸
阕Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
癸gui3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阕?

How to say to close, to shut; watchtower in Chinese

“to close, to shut; watchtower” in Chinese is阕què

The character 阕 (què) primarily means 'to close' or 'to shut.' It is also used in literary contexts to refer to a section of ci poetry, and can denote a watchtower. This character is less common in everyday language, often appearing in literary or poetic works.

When to use 阕

This character is typically used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Confusion may arise from its use in poetry, so it's important to distinguish it from more common words for 'close.' Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it, as it is a fourth tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阕 with more common terms for closing, such as 关 (guān). For example, using 阕 in casual conversation can sound overly formal or poetic, so it's better to use 关 when talking about closing a door.

Write 阕

阕

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 阕

Words Containing This Character1
阕quèto stop闋
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 阕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阕

No, 阕 is primarily found in literary contexts and is not used frequently in daily conversation.

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