解 meaning and stroke order
To divide; to break up; to split
How to write 解, stroke by stroke
13 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 解
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to divide
- to break up
- to split
- to separate
- to dissolve
- to solve
- to transport under guard
- acrobatic display (esp. on horseback) (old)
- variant of 懈[xie4] and 邂[xie4] (old)
How 解 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To cut 刀 the horns 角 off of an ox 牛; 角 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 角 (angle), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 解
Picture a knife 刀 cutting the horns 角 off an ox 牛. Taking something apart piece by piece is the core idea of 解 (jiě): to split, untie, or break a problem down.
解 rarely stands alone in modern speech and mostly appears in words like 解决 (jiějué, to solve), 解释 (jiěshì, to explain) and 了解 (liǎojiě, to understand). Example: 这个问题很难解决。(Zhège wèntí hěn nán jiějué.) This problem is hard to solve.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 理解 (lǐjiě) and 了解 (liǎojiě). 理解 means grasping the meaning or reasons behind something, while 了解 means knowing facts about something or someone. Also note that the 了 in 了解 is read liǎo, not le.
Common words with 解
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 理解 | lǐjiě | to comprehend; to understand | HSK 3 |
| 解决 | jiějué | to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits | HSK 3 |
| 解开 | jiěkāi | to untie; to undo | HSK 3 |
| 了解 | liǎojiě | to understand; to know about; to learn about; to find out | HSK 4 |
| 解释 | jiěshì | explanation; to explain | HSK 4 |
| 缓解 | huǎnjiě | to bring relief; to alleviate (a crisis) | HSK 4 |
| 解除 | jiěchú | to remove; to sack | HSK 5 |
| 解放 | jiěfàng | to liberate; to emancipate | HSK 5 |
| 误解 | wùjiě | to misunderstand; misunderstanding | HSK 5 |
| 分解 | fēnjiě | to resolve; to decompose | HSK 5 |
| 调解 | tiáojiě | to mediate; to bring parties to an agreement | HSK 5 |
| 解说 | jiěshuō | to explain (verbally); to give a running commentary | HSK 6 |
| 化解 | huàjiě | to dissolve; to resolve (contradictions) | HSK 6 |
| 解雇 | jiěgù | to fire; to sack | HSK 7-9 |
解 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 解
Learning 解 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 解
How many strokes are in 解?
解 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 解 mean?
解 (jiě) means to divide; to break up; to split. A common word with it is 理解 (lǐjiě), meaning "to comprehend; to understand".
How do you pronounce 解?
解 is pronounced jiě, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 解?
The radical of 解 is 角, which carries the idea of "angle". Dictionaries list 解 under this radical.
Is 解 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 解 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 解释 and 说明?
解释 (jiěshì) means explaining why or clarifying a misunderstanding, often in response to confusion. 说明 (shuōmíng) means describing or stating how something is, like instructions.
When is 解 pronounced xiè or jiè?
The xiè reading appears mainly in the surname 解 (Xiè) and some old usages. The jiè reading, meaning to transport under guard, is rare and mostly found in older texts like 解送 (jièsòng).