Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Practice & Review
Learning Essentials
  1. Home
  3. Dictionary
  5. 起

起 (qǐ): To rise — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 3.0Level 3
HSK 3.0:Recognition 1
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
HSK Course Books
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes GuideHot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse YearHot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
HSK 3.0Vocab 3Recognition 1
1.

Animated Stroke Order 起

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 起 — animated stroke order

6,398 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 起

起 stroke order diagram
3.

Character Breakdown

Semi-Enclosed
起
走zǒu · go
己jǐ · self
起=
4.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 起

起 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 3 PDF pack
5.

How to Use 起

Getting up or rising

起 + noun/verb

In words about physically rising or moving upward, 起 (qǐ) means to get up or rise.

起床 • qǐ chuáng • get up (out of bed) • HSK 2
6.

HSK Vocabulary: 起

对不起 • duì bu qǐ • sorry
HSK 1
duì对
bu
7.

Example Sentences

tā他
de的
huà话
jī激
qǐ起
le了
wǒ

Information

Pinyinqǐ
Meaningto rise, to get up, to start
Strokes10
Radical走
Traditional起
StructureSemi-Enclosed
Frequency#222
Zhuyinㄑㄧˇ
UnicodeU+8D77
CangjieGORHU
走zǒu · go
+己jǐ · self
HSK 2
qǐ起
chuáng床

get up (out of bed)

起来 • qǐ lái • stand up; sit up; rise to one's feet • HSK 3
HSK 3
qǐ起
lái来

stand up; sit up; rise to one's feet

起飞 • qǐ fēi • take off [plane] • HSK 3
HSK 3
qǐ起
fēi飞

take off [plane]

起伏 • qǐ fú • rise and fall; ups and downs; undulate • HSK 6
HSK 6
qǐ起
fú伏

rise and fall; ups and downs; undulate

Starting or beginning

起 + noun/verb

In words about the start of an action or event, 起 (qǐ) indicates a beginning or origin.

起初 • qǐ chū • originally; at first; in the beginning • HSK 6
HSK 6
qǐ起
chū初

originally; at first; in the beginning

起源 • qǐ yuán • origin; beginning • HSK 6
HSK 6
qǐ起
yuán源

origin; beginning

起点 • qǐ diǎn • starting point • HSK 3.0 · L6
HSK 3.0 · L6
qǐ起
diǎn点

starting point

起步 • qǐ bù • Start • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
qǐ起
bù步

Start

Causing or evoking

verb + 起

In words where 起 (qǐ) follows another verb, it means to cause, evoke, or bring about something.

引起 • yǐn qǐ • to give rise to • HSK 4
HSK 4
yǐn引
qǐ起

to give rise to

唤起 • huàn qǐ • Evoke / arouse • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
huàn唤
qǐ起

Evoke / arouse

激起 • jī qǐ • arouse / provoke • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
jī激
qǐ起

arouse / provoke

提起 • tí qǐ • to mention • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
tí提
qǐ起

to mention

不
qǐ起

sorry

一起 • yì qǐ • together
HSK 2
yì一
qǐ起

together

起到 • qǐ dào • (in an expression of the form 起到…用) to have (a (motivating etc) effect); to play (a (stabilizing etc) role)
HSK 3.0 · L4
qǐ起
dào到

(in an expression of the form 起到…用) to have (a (motivating etc) effect); to play (a (stabilizing etc) role)

发起 • fā qǐ • to originate
HSK 3.0 · L5
fā发
qǐ起

to originate

了不起 • liǎo bu qǐ • amazing; terrific; extraordinary
HSK 5
liǎo了
bu不
qǐ起

amazing; terrific; extraordinary

看不起 • kàn bu qǐ • look down upon; scorn; disdain
HSK 5
kàn看
bu不
qǐ起

look down upon; scorn; disdain

我
de的
xìng兴
qù趣
。

His words aroused my interest.

tā他
de的
é额
tóu头
yǒu有
yī一
gè个
tū突
qǐ起
。

He has a bump on his forehead.

wǒ我
měi每
tiān天
zǎo早
shang上
qī七
diǎn点
qǐ起
chuáng床
。

I get up at seven o'clock every morning.

wǒ我
měi每
tiān天
zǎo早
shang上
liù六
diǎn点
qǐ起
。

I get up at six o'clock every morning.

fēi飞
jī机
jiāng将
zài在
shí十
fēn分
zhōng钟
hòu后
qǐ起
fēi飞
。

The plane will take off in ten minutes.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK (3.0) Level 3

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 记jìto record, to remember
  • 季jìseason; the last month of a season
  • 加jiāto add, to increase, to put in
  • 讲jiǎngspeak
  • 角jiǎohorn; corner; jiao (written) [unit of currency = 0.1 yuan]
  • 脚jiǎofoot
View all HSK (3.0) 3 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "qi".

  • 凄qīchilly, desolate, sorrowful
  • 讫qìfinish; conclude, stop; exhaust
  • 脐qíabdominal area of crab; navel
  • 祁qípray; numerous, ample, abundant
  • 畦qísections in vegetable farm
  • 鳍qífin
View all "qi" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "走".

  • 趣qùto hurry; to urge; to hasten
  • 赵zhàoA surname; a state in ancient China
  • 赴fùto go to, to proceed towards
  • 趁chènto take advantage of; avail oneself of
  • 赶gǎnto catch up
  • 趟tàng[measure word for trips, times and rows]
View all "走" radical characters →