題 (tí) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

題

tí[ti2]Tone 2

topic, exam question, subject

HSK 2

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题

Guru Deep Dive

English · topic, exam question, subject

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Topology:Left-right

Strokes:18

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (是) is narrower and slightly taller, while the right side (页) is broader with a strong sweeping bottom tail and dot to balance the complex left structure.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 題 uses the same components as the simplified 题; the modern simplified form preserves the exact same glyph structure for this character.

1. Meaning

exam question, problem, or topic

to inscribe or write on somethingto mention or bring upsurname Ti

noun / verbNeutral#education#exams#communication#writing

Sample Usage

这个问题很难。
zhège wèntí hěn nán.
This problem/question is very difficult.
今天的会议主题是什么？
jīntiān de huìyì zhǔtí shì shénme?
What is the topic of today's meeting?

2. Sound

/[tʰi³⁵]/Tone: 35

題

títi2

´(35)

=tí

Initial Consonant

Type: Aspirated Alveolar

Sounds like: t sound as in tea

Aspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Explosive puff of breath! Tissue held before mouth MUST flutter.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip pressed against the alveolar ridge behind the upper front teeth, releasing a burst of air.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -i vowel group

Sounds like: ee sound as in see

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

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

Tone

T2 (35)

3 → 5 (35)

2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 starts at a mid pitch and rises sharply to the top, exactly like the English questioning intonation when you say 'Huh?' or 'What?' in surprise.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the rising Tone 2 (tí) with Tone 4 (tì), or mishearing the unaspirated 'd' sound (dí) due to similar vowel structures.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Hand moves diagonally upward from left to right, mirroring an inquiring nod or a rising pitch.

3. Writing

Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 18 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The left side (是) is narrower and slightly taller, while the right side (页) is broader with a strong sweeping bottom tail and dot to balance the complex left structure.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 題 uses the same components as the simplified 题; the modern simplified form preserves the exact same glyph structure for this character.

4. Components

Radical 页 · Page / Leaf Radical (Head, page, or flat surface)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 页 (Indicates head, face, or writing surface context)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 是 (original sound: shì / tí)

Combine the phonetic element 是 (shì - right/is) on the left with 页 (yè - page/head) on the right to form 题, representing a written topic or exam question found on a page.

是 Provides phonetic and structural guidance on the left
页 Provides semantic meaning related to pages, headings, and writing on the right

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

13· Phonetic Root: 是 (shì)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally formed by combining 是 (shì) as a phonetic sound indicator and 页 (yè), which originally depicted a person with a prominent head, later shifting to mean page or written topic.

Semantic Evolution: From an original meaning referring to the forehead or head, it evolved to mean the subject heading at the top of a page, and eventually expanded to mean exam questions, homework problems, and general topics.

In ancient times, written exam topics were inscribed on large public boards or official scrolls.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: ダイ

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

제

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

On every exam **page** (**页**), you must decide whether each statement **is** (**是**) true or false to solve the difficult test **question** (**题**).

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

提

títo lift, to carryAdd the hand radical (扌) on the left to mean lifting something with your hand.

堤

dīdike, embankmentAdd the earth radical (土) to represent a mud barrier or dike.

醍

tírefined butter / gheeAdd the alcohol/liquid radical (酉) to represent distilled liquids.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

提(tí)

提 has the hand radical (扌) because it means to lift; 题 has 是 on the left and 页 on the right representing an exam question.

时(shí)

时 has the sun radical (日) for time, whereas 题 has 页 for exam questions and topics.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

這場考試的數學最後一___太難了。

Clue: tí

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the radical 页 on the right with other similar components, or mixing up 题 (exam question) with 提 (to lift) due to identical pinyin.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 题, what core meanings come to mind regarding school and conversation?

Production: How do you write the character for 'exam question/topic' (tí) combining 是 and 页?

題títopic, exam question, subject

Speed:

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