Sentence #798248 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted
How 空气 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
空kōngempty
穴cave · xuéMeaning part
工work · gōngSound part
穴 hints at the meaning (cave); 工 (gōng) hints at the sound. Compare it with kōng.
气qìgas; air
气 is a single shape of 4 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from layers of vapour rising: air, steam, breath.
How to write 空气
空 8 strokes · 气 4 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 空气 (kōngqì). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
空气 (kōngqì) means “air” or “atmosphere”. It is an HSK 4 word.
Say it kōngqì: kōng with a 1st tone, then qì with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 空气 is written 空氣. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type kongqi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 空气 from the suggestions. Typing kongqi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
空气 is an HSK 4 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
空kōng1st tone, high and level
气qì4th tone, falling
