How to Write 沏 (qī) — Meaning “to brew; to infuse (tea or coffee)”

Imagine you need to "cut" (切) a tea bag open and then pour water (氵) over it to brew. The water and the cutting action together help you recall that 沏 means to brew tea or coffee.

Write the water radical 氵 first with three dots in a left-to-right diagonal, then the right part 切. A common mistake is making the vertical hook in 切 too long or forgetting the second left-falling stroke inside the hook shape. Keep the 切 component compact and balanced.

沏 with 切 means to brew, while 㳄 (rare, meaning saliva or flow) has a different right part 欠. 氿 (guǐ, a spring of water) uses 九 on the right. Visually, 沏's right side is more complex with a hook and two strokes, while 氿 has the simple 九 shape.

沏 is commonly used for making tea (沏茶) or coffee (沏咖啡) by pouring hot water over leaves or grounds. In Chinese tea culture, 沏茶 is a daily activity that involves careful attention to water temperature and steeping time, making this character practical for learners who enjoy tea.

Common words containing 沏 include: 沏茶 (qī chá) — to make tea; to brew tea; 沏咖啡 (qī kā fēi) — to brew coffee; 沏壶茶 (qī hú chá) — to brew a pot of tea.