起
Character learning workspace

qǐ · to begin, to initiate

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #174
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Learn every stroke in 起

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 起 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

10Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Lower-left enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

走Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 起 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 起

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

qǐWords pronounced qǐ
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Example sentences

Notice where 起 sits in each complete thought.

Duì bù qǐ, wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xià.对不起,我要在下一站下。

Excuse me, I have to get off at the next stop.

Source: Tatoeba #462014 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì wǒ jiā zuì zǎo qǐ chuáng de rén.她是我家最早起床的人。

She gets up the earliest in my family.

Source: Tatoeba #5405457 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bú shì tā kàn qǐ lái de nà yàng.她不是她看起来的那样。

She is different from how she looks.

Source: Tatoeba #4764879 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Kě yǐ de huà nǐ yě yì qǐ lái ba.可以的话你也一起来吧。

Come along with us if you like.

Source: Tatoeba #344984 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì wèi liǎobùqǐ de nǚ xìng.你是位了不起的女性。

You're a wonderful woman.

Source: Tatoeba #5555755 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ bú huì qù.对不起,我不会去。

Sorry I won't be there.

Source: Tatoeba #666406 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 起 in context

  1. Say qǐ, then recall the core meaning: to begin, to initiate.
  2. Write all 10 strokes while keeping the lower-left enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 对不起 (duì bu qǐ), meaning “I'm sorry”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 起 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.