Chinese word

下棋

Pronunciation

Pinyinxià qí

Meaning

  • verbplay chess

Example

周末我们在公园一起下棋。zhōu mò wǒ men zài gōng yuán yì qǐ xià qí

On weekends, we play chess together in the park.

Illustration for 下棋 (play chess)

More examples

他每天晚上跟父亲一起下棋，练习残局技巧。tā měi tiān wǎn shàng gēn fù qīn yì qǐ xià qí liàn xí cán jú jì qiǎo

Every evening, he plays chess with his father and practices endgame skills.

Core concept

Players read a board, make a move, and answer the opponent's move in a continuing contest.

Common phrases

  • 在家里下棋zài jiā lǐ xià qí

    play chess at home

  • 和爷爷下棋hé yé yé xià qí

    play chess with one's grandfather

  • 线上下棋xiàn shàng xià qí

    play chess online

Similar words

对弈duì yì: Have a board-game match with an opponent, taking turns making moves to decide the winner.
下盘棋xià pán qí: Play one complete board-game match from beginning to end.
下象棋xià xiàng qí: Play Chinese chess by moving pieces on its board to compete for a win.
下围棋xià wéi qí: Play Go by placing stones on its board to compete for territory.

Definition in Chinese

在棋盘上与对手交替落子或移动棋子，通过推进局面决定胜负，常指围棋、象棋、国际象棋等棋类的对弈。zài qí pán shàng yǔ duì shǒu jiāo tì luò zi huò yí dòng qí zi tōng guò tuī jìn jú miàn jué dìng shèng fù cháng zhǐ wéi qí xiàng qí guó jì xiàng qí děng qí lèi de duì yì

Word origin

The verb 下 (xià, "make a move") is joined to 棋 (qí, "board game"), giving a compact expression for taking part in games based on alternating moves.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate chess only with the Western game, but Chinese uses 下棋 (xiàqí, "play a board game") more broadly for games such as Go and shogi.

Other meanings

  • play Goverb
  • play shogiverb

Word lists with this word