起 Stroke Order — How to Write 起
起 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 走, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
起 Radical and Character Components
起 is a phono-semantic compound: 走 (walk) carries the meaning, while 己 indicates the sound.
Radical: 走 + 3 more strokes
起 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- qǐ
Meanings of 起 in Chinese
1
qǐ起
To rise from a lying or sitting position, such as getting out of bed or standing up.
我每天早上七点起床。
I get up at 7 o'clock every morning.
To rise, get up, or start moving from an original position.
比赛快要开始了，运动员们正在起跑线上做准备。
The race is about to begin, and the athletes are getting ready at the starting line.
To start, begin, or originate; also used to denote a minimum (at least) or initial stage.
这件衣服起码要200块钱。
This piece of clothing costs at least 200 yuan.
to pull out; to take out; to haul up (e.g., a net)
渔民们天不亮就出海，辛劳一天后才把渔网起上来。
The fishermen went out to sea before dawn and only hauled in their nets after a full day's hard work.
To pick up or collect (a document, certificate, or package that was deposited or left for collection).
我下午要去快递点起快递。
I need to go to the delivery station to pick up my package this afternoon.
To rise; to swell; to become energetic or show improvement.
他工作很认真，最近表现也开始起色了。
He works very conscientiously, and his performance has recently started to improve.
To begin, start, or arise (e.g., wind, a feeling, an action).
外面突然起风了。
The wind suddenly started outside.
to break out or develop (a skin condition, such as a rash or pimples)
熬夜容易起痘痘。
Staying up late often causes pimples to break out.
To draft or draw up (a document, plan, etc.).
我们正在起草一份详细的计划。
We are currently drafting a detailed plan.
To build or establish (e.g., a structure or a business from scratch).
他们白手起家，最终盖起了一家跨国公司。
They started from scratch and eventually built a multinational company.
Refers to a group, batch, or being together; as in 'yīqǐ' (together).
我们一起去图书馆吧。
Let's go to the library together.
A measure word for cases, incidents, or events.
昨天发生了一起交通事故。
A traffic accident occurred yesterday.
From; since (indicating a starting point in time or a source)
起初大家都不理解，后来才慢慢接受。
At first, everyone didn't understand, but later they gradually accepted it.
Used after a verb to indicate the direction or result of an action, often implying rising, starting, or recalling.
我突然想起了一个好主意。
I suddenly thought of a good idea.
Used after a verb, often with 'lái', to indicate the beginning of an action.
他一讲完笑话，大家都笑了起来
As soon as he finished the joke, everyone started laughing.
Used after a verb, often with "不" (bù) or "得" (de), to indicate capability, competence, or meeting a certain standard.
这么贵的房子，我真买不起。
This house is so expensive, I really can't afford it.
Common Words and Phrases with 起
1
to bring (cargo, goods, etc.) from a ship to land
港口的工人们正在忙碌地将远洋货船上的货物起岸。
The port workers are busily unloading the cargo from the ocean-going freighter onto the shore.
2
to detonate; to cause an explosion
工程师们正在准备起爆隧道中的岩石
The engineers are preparing to detonate the rocks in the tunnel.
3
The first stroke of a Chinese character, or the starting point of a stroke in calligraphy.
学习书法时，掌握每个字的起笔方向和力度至关重要。
When learning calligraphy, it is crucial to master the direction and strength of the first stroke of each character.
4
to raise troops; to start a military campaign or a revolt
为了保护自己的家园，村里的年轻人决定起兵反抗外敌。
To protect their homes, the young people of the village decided to raise an army to resist foreign invaders.
5
to start; to get going
这个新项目刚起步，我们面临着一些挑战。
This new project has just started, and we are facing some challenges.
6
to draft; to draw up (a preliminary version)
会议秘书负责起草会议纪要。
The meeting secretary is responsible for drafting the meeting minutes.
7
to leave; to set out; to depart
我们计划明天清晨起程，前往郊外的湖边露营。
We plan to depart tomorrow morning to go camping by the lake in the suburbs.
8
Originally; at first.
起初，我以为这道题很难，但后来发现其实很简单。
At first, I thought this question was very difficult, but later I found it was actually quite simple.
9
10
the commencement of acrobatic fighting in Chinese traditional opera
当锣鼓声响起，演员们便在舞台上起打，展现了精湛的武艺。
When the gongs and drums sounded, the actors began their martial arts sequence on stage, showcasing their exquisite skills.
11
Starting point
每个人都有自己的起点，重要的是如何前进。
Everyone has their own starting point; what's important is how to move forward.
12
To make an object electrically charged, often through induction; electrification.
在干燥的环境中，摩擦可以使物体起电
In a dry environment, friction can cause objects to become electrified.
13
14
to weigh anchor
船长下令起碇，准备启航前往下一站。
The captain ordered to weigh anchor, preparing to set sail for the next stop.
15
16
To take off, as an aircraft or rocket leaving the ground or water. Figuratively, it means to develop rapidly or boom, like an economy taking off.
飞机在跑道上加速，准备起飞。
The plane accelerated on the runway, preparing to take off.
More words with 起
- jué崛qǐ起Rise, Emergence
- lóng隆qǐ起Uplift, Bulge
- yáng扬qǐ起raise, hoist
- bó勃qǐ起erection, to become erect
- dié迭qǐ起rise one after another, follow one after another
- huàn唤qǐ起To arouse; to evoke.
- téng腾qǐ起to rise; to ascend
- tǐng挺qǐ起stick out, straighten up
- yuán缘qǐ起Origin, Cause
- jīn禁bu不qǐ起cannot bear, cannot withstand
- jīn禁de得qǐ起withstand, endure
- kàn看bù不qǐ起Look down upon, Despise
- mǎi买de得qǐ起can afford
- qiáo瞧de得qǐ起to think highly of, to respect
- fēng蜂qǐ起Rise in swarms, Spring up everywhere
- jiān肩qǐ起shoulder, take up
- juè倔qǐ起flare up, rise stubbornly
- què鹊qǐ起Sudden rise, Meteoric rise to fame
- tū突qǐ起projection, protuberance
- wèi蔚qǐ起Rise vigorously, Flourish
Idioms with 起
- qǐ起chéng承zhuǎn转hé合
- qǐ起jū居wú无shí时to lead an irregular life
- qǐ起sǐ死huí回shēng生bring back to life
- qǐ起zǎo早mō摸hēi黑toil from dawn till dusk
- qǐ起zǎo早tān贪hēi黑toil from dawn till dusk
- bái白shǒu手qǐ起jiā家start from scratch
- bù不shí识qǐ起dǎo倒lack discernment
- cǐ此qǐ起bǐ彼fú伏rising and falling in succession
- cǐ此qǐ起bǐ彼luò落rising and falling in succession
- cóng从hé何shuō说qǐ起Where to begin?
- cóng从tóu头zuò做qǐ起start from scratch
- dà大qǐ起dà大luò落wild fluctuations
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Open the tool →Questions about 起
What does 起 mean in Chinese?
起 (qǐ) means “To rise” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 起?
起 is pronounced qǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 起 have?
起 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 起?
起 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical 走. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 起?
The radical of 起 is 走, and 起 is a phono-semantic compound.