卿 meaning and stroke order
Noble; minister; thou (poetic)
How to write 卿, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 9
- 10
Meaning of 卿
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- high ranking official (old)
- term of endearment between spouses (old)
- (from the Tang Dynasty onwards) term used by the emperor for his subjects (old)
- honorific (old)
How 卿 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 卩 (seal), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 卿
卿 (qīng) is built around 卯, with the two side parts like two people facing each other and something in the middle between them. Picture two officials bowing to each other across a table at court, and you have a minister.
Today 卿 mostly appears in fixed titles and historical or literary language, where it means a high official or an old, intimate way to say "you." The most common modern word is 国务卿 (guówùqīng), the US Secretary of State: 美国国务卿明天访华 (Měiguó guówùqīng míngtiān fǎng Huá) The US Secretary of State visits China tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 卿 with 乡 (xiāng) or its traditional form 鄉, which looks similar in the middle, or with 卯 (mǎo) alone. Also remember the tone is first tone qīng, not qǐng like 请.
Common words with 卿
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 国务卿 | guówùqīng | Secretary of State |
Questions about 卿
How many strokes are in 卿?
卿 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 卿 mean?
卿 (qīng) means noble; minister; thou (poetic). A common word with it is 国务卿 (guówùqīng), meaning "Secretary of State".
How do you pronounce 卿?
卿 is pronounced qīng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 卿?
The radical of 卿 is 卩, which carries the idea of "seal". Dictionaries list 卿 under this radical.
What does 卿卿我我 mean?
卿卿我我 (qīngqīng wǒwǒ) describes a couple being very affectionate and lovey-dovey. It comes from the old use of 卿 as a term of endearment between spouses.
Why does 卿 appear in Chinese names?
Because 卿 carries an elegant meaning of nobility and high rank, parents sometimes use it in given names. It sounds refined and literary rather than everyday.