What does 起 mean in Chinese?

起 (qǐ) means "to rise; to raise; to get up; to set out; to start; to appear; to launch; to initiate (action); to draft; to establish; to get (from a depot or counter); verb suffix, to start; starting from (a time, place, price etc); classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance; classifier for groups: batch, group" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 起?

起 is pronounced "qǐ" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 起?

起 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 起?

Common words with 起 include 一起 (in the same place), 了不起 (amazing), 不起眼 (unremarkable), 再起 (to arise again), 凸起 (convex).

How do you write 起?

You can practice writing 起 using our stroke order tool.

起 (qǐ), to rise

起

qǐ

to rise; to raise; to get up; to set out

HSK 3 New to HSKverbclassifier

Character Breakdown

Radical: 走 (no. 156)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb, classifier) to rise
to raise
to get up
to set out
to start
to appear
to launch
to initiate (action)
to draft
to establish
to get (from a depot or counter)
verb suffix, to start
starting from (a time, place, price etc)
classifier for occurrences or unpredictable events: case, instance
classifier for groups: batch, group

Example Sentences

我早上七点起床了。

Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng le

I got up at seven in the morning

Words Containing 起

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
一起	yī qǐ	in the same place	HSK 2
了不起	liǎo bu qǐ	amazing	HSK 5
不起眼	bù qǐ yǎn	unremarkable
再起	zài qǐ	to arise again
凸起

Related Words

发起(fā qǐ)· to originate

→

度(dù)· to pass

→

上扬(shàng yáng)· to rise (i.e. number increases)

→

作乱(zuò luàn)· to start a rebellion

→

Grammar Notes

Towards/About (对)HSK 2

Subject + 对 + Object + Verb/Adjective

Suggestion with 吧HSK 2

Statement/Suggestion + 吧

就 and 才 (Then/Only then)HSK 2

Subject + (Time/Condition) + 就/才 + Verb

Compound Directional ComplementsHSK 3

Verb + Direction (上/下/进/出/回/过/起) + 来/去

Even (连...都/也)HSK 3

连 + Emphasized Element + 都/也 + Verb

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

起: New to the HSK lists at HSK 3. 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 起 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.