謝 meaning and stroke order
To thank; to refuse politely
How to write 謝, 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 謝
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to thank
- (bound form) to apologize
- (bound form) to decline; to refuse
- (bound form) (of flowers, leaves etc) to wither
How 謝 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 射 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 謝
謝 combines 言 (speech), the meaning part, with 射 (shè, to shoot), which gives the sound. Picture yourself shooting words of thanks straight at someone.
謝 is most often doubled as 謝謝 (xièxie) to say thanks, and it also appears in more formal words like 感謝 (gǎnxiè) and 道謝 (dàoxiè). It can also mean flowers withering, as in 花謝了 (huā xiè le). Example: 謝謝你的幫助。(Xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù.) Thank you for your help.
Common mistake: In 謝謝 the second 謝 is said in the neutral tone (xièxie), so learners who stress both syllables as xiè xiè sound stiff. Also do not confuse the right side 射 with 謝, and remember the simplified form 谢 uses the short speech radical 讠.
Common words with 謝
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 謝謝 | xièxie | to thank; thanks | HSK 1 |
| 感謝 | gǎnxiè | to thank; to be grateful | HSK 2 |
| 新陳代謝 | xīnchén-dàixiè | metabolism (biology); the new replaces the old (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 多謝 | duōxiè | many thanks; thanks a lot | |
| 非常感謝 | fēichánggǎnxiè | extremely grateful; very thankful | |
| 謝天謝地 | xiètiānxièdì | (idiom) thank goodness | |
| 不用謝 | bùyòngxiè | You're welcome; Don't mention it | |
| 道謝 | dàoxiè | to express thanks | |
| 謝絕 | xièjué | to refuse politely | |
| 謝恩 | xiè'ēn | to thank sb for favor (esp. emperor or superior official) | |
| 謝意 | xièyì | gratitude; thanks | |
| 不謝 | bùxiè | you're welcome; don't mention it; not at all | |
| 答謝 | dáxiè | to express one's thanks | |
| 致謝 | zhìxiè | expression of gratitude; to give thanks |
Questions about 謝
How many strokes are in 謝?
謝 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 謝 mean?
謝 (xiè) means to thank; to refuse politely. A common word with it is 谢谢 (xièxie), meaning "to thank; thanks".
How do you pronounce 謝?
謝 is pronounced xiè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 謝?
The radical of 謝 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 謝 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 謝?
謝 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 谢, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do you respond when someone says 謝謝?
Common replies are 不用謝 (bùyòng xiè), 不客氣 (bú kèqi), or 沒事 (méishì). All of them mean roughly you're welcome or no problem.
Can 謝 mean to refuse?
Yes, in set phrases. 謝絕 (xièjué) means to politely decline, as on signs like 謝絕參觀 (no visitors). On its own in daily speech, 謝 almost always means to thank.