契 meaning and stroke order
Deed, bond, contract; to engrave
How to write 契, stroke by stroke
9 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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 契
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to carve
- carved words
- to agree
- a contract
- a deed
How 契 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A contract signed by cutting 刀 notches 丰 in wood 木 (now changed to 大).
Radical: 大 (big), shared by 46 characters on this site.
How to remember 契
Picture someone using a knife 刀 to cut notches 丰 into a piece of wood, which has now become 大 at the bottom. Those cut marks were the record of a deal, so 契 (qì) means a contract or bond.
契 (qì) rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in words like 契约 (qìyuē, contract), 地契 (dìqì, land deed) and especially 默契 (mòqì, tacit understanding). Example: 他们俩很有默契。(Tāmen liǎ hěn yǒu mòqì.) The two of them have great rapport.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 契 with 刧 or with 挈 (qiè, to lift), which shares the same top but has 手 at the bottom instead of 大. Also keep the fourth tone qì, not qiē or qǐ.
Common words with 契
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
契 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 契
How many strokes are in 契?
契 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 契 mean?
契 (qì) means deed, bond, contract; to engrave. A common word with it is 契约 (qìyuē), meaning "agreement; contract".
How do you pronounce 契?
契 is pronounced qì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 契?
The radical of 契 is 大, which carries the idea of "big". Dictionaries list 契 under this radical.
Is 契 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 契 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 默契 really mean?
默契 (mòqì) literally means a silent agreement. It describes people who understand each other without words, like teammates or old friends. It is very common in daily speech.
How is 契机 different from 机会?
契机 (qìjī) is a turning point or key moment that triggers change, and it sounds more formal. 机会 (jīhuì) is a general word for chance or opportunity used in everyday talk.