歇 (xiē) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

歇

xiē[xie1]Tone 1

to rest

HSK 5

Guru Deep Dive

English · to rest

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:13

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (欠) should be slightly narrower, allowing the right component (曷) to occupy more space and maintain overall stability without leaning.

1. Meaning

to rest or take a break

to stop or haltto sleep (regional dialect)a moment or short while

VerbNeutral#actions#body state#time

Sample Usage

大家累了，歇一会儿吧。
dàjiā lèi le, xiē yīhuǐr ba.
Everyone is tired, let's take a short break.
雨终于歇了。
yǔ zhōngyú xiē le.
The rain has finally stopped.

2. Sound

/[ɕi̯e˴]/Tone: 55

歇

xiēxie1

¯(55)

=xiē

Initial Consonant

Type: Alveolo-Palatal Fricative

Sounds like: sh sound pronounced with the tongue blade near the hard palate (alveolo-palatal sibilant)

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Hissing friction with lips stretched wide in a smile.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Blade of the tongue approaches the hard palate while the tip touches behind the lower teeth.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -e vowel group

Sounds like: -ie rhymes with 'yeh' in yes

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'yeh'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T1 (55)

5 → 5 (55)

1st Tone (High-Flat)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is a high, sustained musical note, just like humming a steady high pitch at the top of your speaking range.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the front vowel 'ie' sound with 'i' alone or mishearing the high level Tone 1 as a rising tone.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Keep your hand flat and steady at eye level, matching the high level pitch of Tone 1.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 13 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left component (欠) should be slightly narrower, allowing the right component (曷) to occupy more space and maintain overall stability without leaning.

4. Components

Radical 欠 · Lack / Yawn Radical (breathing, yawning, or lack)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 欠 (indicates breathing, sighing, or physical exertion related to resting)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 曷 (original sound: hé / xiē)

A person standing under the sun or dealing with heat (曷) needs to exhale a heavy sigh and catch their breath (欠), meaning they need to rest.

曷 phonetic and conceptual hint of a hot or weary state
欠 semantic indicator of exhaling, breathing out, or fatigue

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

15· Phonetic Root: 曷 (hé)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from 曷 (expressing heat or hardship) and 欠 (breathing/yawning). Ancient Chinese workers would gasp or exhale deeply when stopping manual labor to catch their breath.

Semantic Evolution: Originally referred to exhaling or stopping to breathe; over time, it broadened to mean any form of resting, pausing, or halting an activity.

The component 欠 historically depicts a person opening their mouth wide to breathe or yawn.

6. Sinosphere

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

You work under the hot sun (曷) until you are completely out of breath, so you open your mouth to yawn and exhale a deep sigh (欠) because it is time to rest (xiē).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

揭

jiēto lift, to exposeUses the hand radical (扌) instead of 欠, meaning using your hand to uncover something.

褐

hèbrown, coarse clothUses the clothing radical (衤) instead of 欠, representing coarse garments.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

些(xiē)

些 means 'some' and has 止 (stop) over 二 (two), whereas 歇 has 曷 and 欠 and means 'to rest'.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

走了这么远的路，我们找个地方[___]一会儿吧。

Clue: xiē

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the character structure with 些 or mispronouncing the high level tone (Tone 1) as a falling tone.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see '歇', what action does it represent?

Production: How do you write and pronounce the character for 'to take a break' (xiē)?

歇xiēto rest

Speed:

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