How to Write 些 (xiē) — Meaning “some; a few”

Think of 'this two' — imagine pointing to two items and saying 'these some'. The top 此 (this) plus bottom 二 (two) can remind you that 些 means an unspecified small quantity.

Write the top part 此 first (6 strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal), then add the bottom 二 (2 strokes: horizontal, horizontal). A common mistake is making the bottom 二 too wide or misaligning it under the center of 此.

些 has the top component 此 (this) and bottom 二 (two), giving it a compact shape. 亘 (gèn) has two horizontals with a 日 (sun) shape in between, while 亚 (yà) has a more complex frame with a vertical stroke through the center. Visually, 些 is the only one with 此 on top.

些 is used to indicate an indefinite number, often combined with demonstratives like 这 (this), 那 (that), or 哪 (which) to mean 'these', 'those', or 'which ones'. It also appears in the common word 一些 (yīxiē, 'some'). There's no special cultural note — it's a basic plural marker for nouns.

Common words containing 些 include: 一些 (yī xiē) — some; a few; 这些 (zhè xiē) — These; 哪些 (nǎ xiē) — Which ones.