What does 刻 mean in Chinese?

刻 (kè) means "quarter (hour); moment; to carve; to engrave; to cut; oppressive; classifier for short time intervals" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 刻?

刻 is pronounced "kè" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 刻?

刻 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 3 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 刻?

Common words with 刻 include 光刻 (photolithography), 刻剥 (to grab money), 刻印 (to engrave a seal), 刻写 (inscribe), 刻度 (marked scale).

How do you write 刻?

You can practice writing 刻 using our stroke order tool.

刻 (kè), quarter (hour)

刻

kè

quarter (hour); moment; to carve; to engrave

HSK 3verbclassifier

Character Breakdown

Radical: 刀 (no. 18)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb, classifier) quarter (hour)
moment
to carve
to engrave
to cut
oppressive
classifier for short time intervals

Example Sentences

现在三点一刻。

Xiànzài sān diǎn yī kè

It's now 3:15

Words Containing 刻

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
光刻	guāng kè	photolithography
刻剥	kè bō	to grab money
刻印	kè yìn	to engrave a seal
刻写	kè xiě	inscribe
刻度	kè dù	marked scale

→

上班时间(shàng bān shí jiān)· time of going to work

→

弹指(tán zhǐ)· a snap of the fingers

→

弹指之间(tán zhǐ zhī jiān)· a snap of the fingers (idiom); in an instant

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: HSK 3
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

刻: HSK 3 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 刻 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

刻