起 (qǐ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 起 (qǐ) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 起 (qǐ) means "to rise; to get up; to start". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 10 strokes and the radical 走.

Q: How do you write 起 stroke by stroke?

起 has 10 strokes. The radical is 走. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 起 and 赳?

起 (qǐ) and 赳 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 起?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 走. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 起?

Common words containing 起 include: 起床 (qǐ chuáng) — to get out of bed; to get up; 一起 (yì qǐ) — together; 起来 (qǐ lái) — to get up; to stand up.

How to Write 起

The character 起 (qǐ) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 走 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

起 is pronounced qǐ in Mandarin Chinese. It means to rise; to get up; to start.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 起 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 起

起床 qǐ chuáng

to get out of bed; to get up

一起 yì qǐ

together

起来 qǐ lái

to get up; to stand up

Example Sentences

我六点起床。

wǒ liù diǎn qǐ chuáng

I get up at six o'clock.

我们一起去。

wǒ men yì qǐ qù

We'll go together.

请站起来。

qǐng zhàn qǐ lái

Please stand up.

Similar Characters

赳 jiū

赴 fù

赵 zhào

Practice Writing 起 (qǐ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 起 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 起

What does 起 (qǐ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 起 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 起 and 赳?

What mistakes do learners make writing 起?

What common words use 起?

How to Write 起 (qǐ)