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气息 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
气息qìxībreathHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6133, Very Hard
气息qìxīsmellHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6133, Very Hard
气息qìxīodorHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6133, Very Hard
气息qìxīflavorHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6133, Very Hard
qìxī(qi4xi1)qi xi T4
  1. 1breath
  2. 2smell
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March 24, 2026

气息(氣息)qìxī(qi4xi1)

气息 (qìxī) refers to breath, smell, or odor and can imply both the physical act of breathing and the sensory perception of scents or flavors. It is commonly used in contexts relating to health, nature, and culinary experiences, conveying both literal and metaphorical meanings, such as the 'breath of life' or the 'smell of something pleasant.'

Strokes14Frequency#6133DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, breath and scent are often associated with holistic health practices, such as traditional medicine, which emphasizes the importance of breathing techniques and the aroma of herbs in promoting well-being.

Memory tip

Imagine taking a deep breath of fresh air (气) and feeling the essence (息) of nature fill your lungs. The character 气 visually resembles 'air' and '气息' suggests the essence of that air, making it easier to remember its connection to breath and smell.

Meanings of 气息

qìxī(qi4xi1)
1breath
2smell
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 气息

气息Simplified
氣息Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 气息

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AI study notes for 气息

Quick Contrast

气味 (qìwèi) - use 气息 for a broader sense of breath or life, while 气味 is more specific to the smell of something.

Usage Notes

气息 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious of its nuances; for instance, it can refer to both pleasant fragrances and unpleasant odors. Common collocations include '新鲜的气息' (fresh breath) and '香气' (fragrance), while tone confusion between '气' and '期' can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 气息 is not directly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 3-4 vocabulary such as '气' (air) and '香' (fragrance). Focus on understanding the character components and practice using it in sentences related to health and culinary topics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 气息 with similar-sounding terms like 气候 (climate) or 期望 (expectation). For example, saying '我喜欢这个气候' (I like this breath) instead of using the correct term for 'climate' can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 气息

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Component characters

气qìgas
HSK 44 strokes气
View full entry
息xībreath
HSK 310 strokes心
View full entry

How to say breath in Chinese

“breath” in Chinese is气息qìxī

气息 (qìxī) refers to breath, smell, or odor and can imply both the physical act of breathing and the sensory perception of scents or flavors. It is commonly used in contexts relating to health, nature, and culinary experiences, conveying both literal and metaphorical meanings, such as the 'breath of life' or the 'smell of something pleasant.'

When to use 气息

气息 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious of its nuances; for instance, it can refer to both pleasant fragrances and unpleasant odors. Common collocations include '新鲜的气息' (fresh breath) and '香气' (fragrance), while tone confusion between '气' and '期' can lead to misunderstandings.

气息 or something close to it

气味 (qìwèi) - use 气息 for a broader sense of breath or life, while 气味 is more specific to the smell of something.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 气息 with similar-sounding terms like 气候 (climate) or 期望 (expectation). For example, saying '我喜欢这个气候' (I like this breath) instead of using the correct term for 'climate' can lead to confusion.

Write 气息

气
息

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Frequently asked questions about 气息

气息 refers to breath or smell, while 味道 specifically refers to taste. They are related but focus on different sensory experiences.

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