惕 meaning and stroke order
Cautious, careful, alert
How to write 惕, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 惕
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- fearful
- respectful
How 惕 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Heart.
忄 gives the meaning and 易 hints at the sound.
Radical: 忄 (heart), shared by 167 characters on this site.
How to remember 惕
惕 combines the heart radical 忄 with 易 (yì), which gives the sound. Picture a heart that stays watchful because things can change easily, so it keeps on guard.
惕 almost never appears alone in modern Chinese. You will meet it mainly in 警惕 (jǐngtì), meaning vigilant or to be on guard, which works as both a verb and an adjective. Example: 我们要提高警惕。(Wǒmen yào tígāo jǐngtì.) We need to stay more alert.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 惕 with 剔 (tī, to pick out) and 踢 (tī, to kick), which share the 易 part. Remember that only the heart version 惕 is fourth tone tì and is about feelings of caution.
Common words with 惕
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 警惕 | jǐngtì | to be on the alert; vigilant | HSK 7-9 |
惕 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 惕
How many strokes are in 惕?
惕 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 惕 mean?
惕 (tì) means cautious, careful, alert. A common word with it is 警惕 (jǐngtì), meaning "to be on the alert; vigilant".
How do you pronounce 惕?
惕 is pronounced tì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 惕?
The radical of 惕 is 忄, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 惕 under this radical.
Is 惕 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 惕 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Why is 惕 pronounced tì when 易 is pronounced yì?
Sound components in Chinese characters often drifted over centuries, so the modern sounds do not always match. Many characters with 易, such as 踢 (tī) and 剔 (tī), also have a t sound, which can help you remember 惕.
What is the difference between 警惕 and 小心?
小心 (xiǎoxīn) is everyday advice to be careful, like watching your step. 警惕 is more serious and formal, used for staying alert to danger, threats, or scams.