HanziGuru.清 · qīng
清
qīng[qing1]Tone 1

clear

HSK 2
Guru Deep Dive

English · clear

Cached lesson
1 / 1
Topology:Left-right
Strokes:11
Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (water) should be compact and narrower, leaving ample space for the right component (Qīng) to maintain structural harmony.
1. Meaning

clear, clean, pure

Qing dynasty of China (1644–1911)surname Qingquiet, stillclear, distinctto clear, to settle (accounts)
adjective / verb / proper nounNeutral#water#purity#history#state
Sample Usage
  • 这 S 水很清。
    Zhè shuǐ hěn qīng.
    This water is very clear.
  • 清朝是中国最后一个封建王朝。
    Qīng cháo shì zhōngguó zuìhòu yīgè fēngjiàn wángcháo.
    The Qing dynasty was the last feudal dynasty in China.
2. Sound
/[t͡ɕʰɪŋ⁵⁵]/Tone: 55
清
qīngqing1
++
¯(55)
=qīng
Initial Consonant
q
Type: Aspirated Alveolo-Palatal
Sounds like: ch sound produced with the tongue blade near the alveolar ridge and teeth
Aspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Extremely strong burst of breath! Tissue held before mouth MUST fly.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Flat tongue blade close to the back of the upper teeth, dropping sharply to release air.
Final Rhyme
ing
Vowel Group: -i vowel group
Sounds like: -ing rhymes with 'ing' in English words like 'sing'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eeng'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T1 (55)
1st Tone (High-Flat)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 1 is a steady, flat, high-pitched tone, matching the pitch of a singer holding a high note.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse the aspirated initial q [tɕʰ] with the unaspirated j [tɕ] or the retroflex ch [tʂʰ].
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Keep your voice at a steady, high pitch like a flat musical note held in the upper register.
3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 11 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left radical (water) should be compact and narrower, leaving ample space for the right component (Qīng) to maintain structural harmony.

4. Components

Radical 氵 · Water Radical (water, liquid)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 氵 (indicates water-related meanings, such as clear or pure liquids)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 青 (original sound: qīng)

Water (氵) plus the phonetic element blue/green (青) combines to depict clean, unpolluted water that reflects a blue hue.

  • 氵 water semantic indicator
  • 青 phonetic clue and color association (blue/green)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Combined from the water sign (氵) to denote liquid and the phonetic/semantic element (青) representing lush green or blue vegetation, originally signifying crystal-clear, pure water.

Semantic Evolution: Expanded from pure water to general purity, clarity, settling accounts, and later adopted as the dynastic name Qing.

  • The Qing dynasty (1644–1911) chose this character for its dynastic name to symbolize prosperity and water conquering the preceding Ming dynasty's fire element in traditional five-elements philosophy.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: セイ (sei), ショウ (shō) / Kun: きよ.い (kiyoi)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
청
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine looking at a deep blue spring of WATER (氵) where the BLUE/GREEN (青) moss at the bottom is completely CLEAR and pure.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
请
qǐngto invite, pleaseAdd speech radical (讠) for words/invitations.
情
qíngemotion, feelingAdd heart radical (忄) for human emotions.
晴
qíngclear, sunny weatherAdd sun radical (日) for weather.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
请(qǐng)
请 has the speech radical (讠) for asking or inviting, whereas 清 has water (氵) for clear.
情(qíng)
情 has the heart radical (忄) for feelings, while 清 has water (氵).
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
这杯水很[___]，你可以放心喝。
Clue: qīng
Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the phonetic family members (like 请, 情, 晴) by mixing up the left radicals (speech, heart, sun, water).

Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 清, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?
Production: How do you write the character for 'clear/clean' (qīng) using a water radical and a phonetic component?
Real-World Video Context

Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.

Search theme
Accent preference

Results are live YouTube search — accents and levels aren't verified.

清qīngclear
Speed:
Searching YouTube for native pronunciation videos...
0 / 0
Watch on YouTubeMore Results on YouTube