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March 24, 2026
辞(辤)cí(ci2)
The character 辞 (cí) primarily means 'to resign' or 'to dismiss,' often used in formal contexts such as leaving a job or declining an invitation. It can also refer to the act of taking leave or expressing a farewell. Additionally, it has historical significance as it relates to ballads in classical Chinese poetry.
Strokes13Radical舌Frequency#6478DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, resignations were often expressed with great formality and respect, reflecting the importance of maintaining relationships even when parting ways. This character is part of the rich heritage of classical poetry, where辞 also refers to specific poetic forms.
Memory Tip
Think of 辞 as a combination of 'speech' (the radical 口, meaning 'mouth') and 'to leave' (the radical 辶, meaning 'to walk'). Imagine someone at a podium (口) resigning from their position, walking away (辶) while reciting a farewell ballad.
Meanings of 辞
cí(ci2)
1to resign
2to dismiss
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About 辞
辞Simplified
辤Traditional
13Strokes
舌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6478Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 辞
Podcast: 辞
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AI Study Notes for 辞
Quick Contrast
辞 (cí) vs 辞职 (cízhí) — use 辞 for general resignation or dismissal, while 辞职 specifically refers to resigning from a job.
Usage Notes
Cí is typically used in formal situations, so avoid using it in casual conversations. A common mistake is to confuse 辞 with 词 (cí), which means 'words' or 'speech.' Pay attention to the context to use the correct term.
HSK Study Tips
Although 辞 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects to themes of employment and communication found in HSK Level 4. Students should focus on its usage in formal contexts and its historical significance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 辞 (cí) with 词 (cí), leading to incorrect usages like '我辞一首诗' instead of the correct '我写一首诗' (I wrote a poem). Make sure to differentiate between 'to resign' and 'words' in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 辞
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Learning Lab
Knowing 辞 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 辞 (cí) primarily means 'to resign' or 'to dismiss,' often used in formal contexts such as leaving a job or declining an invitation. It can also refer to the act of taking leave or expressing a farewell. Additionally, it has historical significance as it relates to ballads in classical Chinese poetry.
When to use 辞
Cí is typically used in formal situations, so avoid using it in casual conversations. A common mistake is to confuse 辞 with 词 (cí), which means 'words' or 'speech.' Pay attention to the context to use the correct term.
辞 or something close to it
辞 (cí) vs 辞职 (cízhí) — use 辞 for general resignation or dismissal, while 辞职 specifically refers to resigning from a job.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 辞 (cí) with 词 (cí), leading to incorrect usages like '我辞一首诗' instead of the correct '我写一首诗' (I wrote a poem). Make sure to differentiate between 'to resign' and 'words' in context.
Write 辞
辞
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Grammar Patterns of 辞
辞 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 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.
