却 (què) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 却 (què) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 却 (què) means "but; yet; however; to retreat". It is an HSK Level 4 character, with 7 strokes and the radical 卩.

Q: How do you write 却 stroke by stroke?

却 has 7 strokes. The radical is 卩. 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 却 and 卮?

却 (què) and 卮 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 却?

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

Q: What common words use 却?

Common words containing 却 include: 退却 (tuì què) — to retreat; to withdraw; 忘却 (wàng què) — To forget / to dismiss.

How to Write 却

The character 却 (què) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 卩 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

却 is pronounced què in Mandarin Chinese. It means but; yet; however; to retreat.

As an HSK Level 4 character, 却 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 却

退却 tuì què

to retreat; to withdraw

忘却 wàng què

To forget / to dismiss

Example Sentences

面对困难，我们不能退却。

miàn duì kùn nán ， wǒ men bù néng tuì què 。

Facing difficulties, we cannot retreat.

不要忘却过去。

bú yào wàng què guò qù

Don't forget the past.

敌人开始退却。

dí rén kāi shǐ tuì què

The enemy began to retreat.

Similar Characters

卮 zhī

卯 mǎo

印 yìn

Practice Writing 却 (què)

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 却

What does 却 (què) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 却 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 却 and 卮?

What mistakes do learners make writing 却?

What common words use 却?

How to Write 却 (què)