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小溪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
小溪xiǎoxībrookHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10653, Very Hard
小溪xiǎoxīstreamletHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10653, Very Hard
xiǎoxī(xiao3xi1)xiao xi T3
  1. 1brook
  2. 2streamlet
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March 24, 2026

小溪xiǎoxī(xiao3xi1)

小溪 refers to a small stream or brook, typically found in natural settings such as forests or rural areas. It conveys a sense of gentle flowing water, often associated with tranquility and nature. This term is commonly used in descriptions of landscapes or in poetic contexts.

Strokes16Frequency#10653DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 小溪 is often celebrated in poetry and art as a symbol of peace and natural beauty. It may evoke images of traditional Chinese landscapes, which frequently feature water elements.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny stream (小) winding through a lush landscape. The '溪' looks like a pathway of water flowing gently, helping you remember that it means 'stream'. Picture yourself relaxing by this small brook, listening to the soothing sounds of water.

Meanings of 小溪

xiǎoxī(xiao3xi1)
1brook
2streamlet
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About 小溪

小溪Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 小溪

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Podcast: 小溪

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AI Study Notes for 小溪

Quick Contrast

溪 (xī) vs 河 (hé) — use 小溪 for smaller, gentler water bodies, while 河 refers to larger rivers.

Usage Notes

Be careful with pronunciation: '小' (xiǎo) should have a low tone and '溪' (xī) a high tone. A common mistake is to confuse it with '河' (hé), which means 'river' and denotes a larger body of water. In writing, it often pairs with words like '流' (liú, to flow) or '水' (shuǐ, water).

HSK Study Tips

Although 小溪 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to nature terms often found in HSK Level 2 and 3. Students should focus on the characters for water and nature, as well as the concept of size indicated by '小'.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use '小溪' to refer to any body of water. For example, saying '我去游泳在小溪' (Wǒ qù yóuyǒng zài xiǎo xī) is incorrect; instead, use '我去游泳在海' (Wǒ qù yóuyǒng zài hǎi) for swimming in the sea.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 小溪

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Component Characters

小xiǎosmall
HSK 13 strokes小
View full entry
溪xīcreek
HSK 713 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say brook in Chinese

“brook” in Chinese is小溪xiǎoxī

小溪 refers to a small stream or brook, typically found in natural settings such as forests or rural areas. It conveys a sense of gentle flowing water, often associated with tranquility and nature. This term is commonly used in descriptions of landscapes or in poetic contexts.

When to use 小溪

Be careful with pronunciation: '小' (xiǎo) should have a low tone and '溪' (xī) a high tone. A common mistake is to confuse it with '河' (hé), which means 'river' and denotes a larger body of water. In writing, it often pairs with words like '流' (liú, to flow) or '水' (shuǐ, water).

小溪 or something close to it

溪 (xī) vs 河 (hé) — use 小溪 for smaller, gentler water bodies, while 河 refers to larger rivers.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use '小溪' to refer to any body of water. For example, saying '我去游泳在小溪' (Wǒ qù yóuyǒng zài xiǎo xī) is incorrect; instead, use '我去游泳在海' (Wǒ qù yóuyǒng zài hǎi) for swimming in the sea.

Write 小溪

小
溪

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Frequently Asked Questions about 小溪

You can say '我们在小溪边野餐' (Wǒmen zài xiǎo xī biān yěcān), meaning 'We have a picnic by the brook.'

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