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止咳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
止咳zhǐkéto suppress coughingHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #23095, Very Hard, medicine
zhǐké(zhi3ke2)zhi ke T3
  1. 1to suppress coughing
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March 24, 2026

止咳zhǐké(zhi3ke2)

止咳 refers to the action of suppressing or stopping a cough. It is commonly used in medical contexts, especially when discussing remedies or treatments for coughs, such as syrups or lozenges that help alleviate this symptom.

Strokes13Frequency#23095DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, traditional Chinese medicine often emphasizes the importance of stopping coughing as a part of overall health, and many herbal remedies are specifically formulated for this purpose, reflecting a holistic approach to health.

Memory tip

Imagine a person named 'Zhi' holding a large 'ke' (which sounds like 'cough') sign, telling everyone to stop coughing. The character 止 (zhi) looks like a person standing still, indicating stopping, while 咳 (ke) resembles a person coughing. Together, they remind you to 'stop the cough'.

Meanings of 止咳

zhǐké(zhi3ke2)
1to suppress coughing
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About 止咳

止咳Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 止咳

Quick Contrast

止咳 (suppress cough) vs 镇咳 (calm cough) — choose 止咳 when referring to stopping a cough completely, while 镇咳 suggests reducing the intensity or frequency of the cough.

Usage Notes

This term is typically used in both spoken and written Chinese in medical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 咳嗽 (késòu), which simply means 'to cough'. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as 止 (zhǐ) is pronounced with a falling tone, while 咳 (ké) has a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 止咳 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with health-related vocabulary often found in HSK levels 3 and 4. Students should focus on related terms like 感冒 (gǎnmào, cold) and 药 (yào, medicine) to understand its usage in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 止咳 with 咳嗽 (késòu), thinking they are synonymous. Remember that 止咳 means to suppress the act of coughing, while 咳嗽 refers to the act of coughing itself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 止咳

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Component characters

止zhǐto stop
HSK 54 strokes止
View full entry
咳hāisound of sighing
HSK 49 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to suppress coughing in Chinese

“to suppress coughing” in Chinese is止咳zhǐké

止咳 refers to the action of suppressing or stopping a cough. It is commonly used in medical contexts, especially when discussing remedies or treatments for coughs, such as syrups or lozenges that help alleviate this symptom.

When to use 止咳

This term is typically used in both spoken and written Chinese in medical contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 咳嗽 (késòu), which simply means 'to cough'. Be mindful of using the correct tone, as 止 (zhǐ) is pronounced with a falling tone, while 咳 (ké) has a rising tone.

止咳 or something close to it

止咳 (suppress cough) vs 镇咳 (calm cough) — choose 止咳 when referring to stopping a cough completely, while 镇咳 suggests reducing the intensity or frequency of the cough.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 止咳 with 咳嗽 (késòu), thinking they are synonymous. Remember that 止咳 means to suppress the act of coughing, while 咳嗽 refers to the act of coughing itself.

Write 止咳

止
咳

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

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Common confusions with 止咳

止咳vs咳
ké

Similar sound but different meanings.

止咳vs止
zhǐ

Same radical but different meaning.

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Frequently asked questions about 止咳

Common 止咳 remedies include herbal syrups, lozenges, and teas that contain ingredients like honey or ginger.

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