戲 meaning and stroke order
Play, show, theater
How to write 戲, stroke by stroke
17 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 戲
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- trick
- drama
- play
- show
How 戲 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 戈 (spear), shared by 34 characters on this site.
How to remember 戲
On the left, a tiger 虍 sits on a ritual vessel 豆, and on the right is a weapon 戈. Picture a stage show where an actor in a tiger costume waves a spear: that is 戲 (xì), a play or show.
戲 is the traditional form, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and older texts. Mainland China writes it as 戏. It appears in words about performing and playing, such as 戲劇 (xìjù, drama), 遊戲 (yóuxì, game) and 演戲 (yǎnxì, to act). Example: 我們去看戲吧。(Wǒmen qù kàn xì ba.) Let's go see a show.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 戲 with 劇 (jù), which also has 虍 and 豆 but ends with the knife 刂 instead of the spear 戈. They appear together in 戲劇, so check the right side carefully.
Common words with 戲
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 遊戲 | yóuxì | game (CL:場|场[chang3]); to play | HSK 3 |
| 戲劇 | xìjù | a drama; a play; theater; script of a play | HSK 5 |
| 遊戲機 | yóuxìjī | video game machine; video game console | HSK 6 |
| 戲曲 | xìqǔ | Chinese opera | HSK 6 |
| 演戲 | yǎnxì | to put on a play; to perform | HSK 7-9 |
| 拍戲 | pāixì | to shoot a movie | HSK 7-9 |
| 馬戲 | mǎxì | circus | HSK 7-9 |
| 把戲 | bǎxì | acrobatics; jugglery; trick; ploy | |
| 馬戲團 | mǎxìtuán | circus | |
| 沒戲 | méixì | (coll.) not a chance; no way | |
| 戲劇性 | xìjùxìng | dramatic | |
| 戲弄 | xìnòng | to play tricks on; to make fun of | |
| 戲院 | xìyuàn | theater; cinema | |
| 調戲 | tiáoxì | to take liberties with a woman; to dally |
Questions about 戲
How many strokes are in 戲?
戲 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 戲 mean?
戲 (xì) means play, show, theater. A common word with it is 游戏 (yóuxì), meaning "game (CL:場|场[chang3]); to play".
How do you pronounce 戲?
戲 is pronounced xì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 戲?
The radical of 戲 is 戈, which carries the idea of "spear". Dictionaries list 戲 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 戲?
戲 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 戏, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Does 戲 mean a real play or just pretending?
It can mean both. 看戲 means watching a performance, but 把戲 (bǎxì) means a trick or ploy, and 演戲 can also describe someone faking their feelings in daily life.
How do you say 'video game' with 戲?
Use 遊戲 (yóuxì) for a game in general, often with 電子 for clarity: 電子遊戲. A game console is 遊戲機 (yóuxìjī).