HSK · Level 26
135 words
Chinese word
棋
Pronunciation
Pinyinqí
Meaning
- nounchess
Example
他从小就喜欢下棋。tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐ huān xià qí
He has liked playing chess since he was little.
More examples
他研究围棋的布局和定式。tā yán jiū wéi qí de bù jú hé dìng shì
He studies go openings and standard patterns.
Core concept
A board-based contest in which players place or move pieces under rules to outthink an opponent.
Common phrases
围棋wéi qí
go
象棋xiàng qí
Chinese chess
棋类qí lèi
board games
Similar words
围棋wéi qí: A two-player game in which black and white stones are placed to claim territory.
象棋xiàng qí: A two-player game in which generals and chariots try to capture the opposing king.
国际象棋guó jì xiàng qí: A two-player game with pieces such as kings, queens, rooks, and bishops.
棋盘qí pán: The surface of a board used for placing game pieces or stones.
Definition in Chinese
泛指在棋盘上按照规则移动棋子以决出胜负的智力对抗活动。fàn zhǐ zài qí pán shàng àn zhào guī zé yí dòng qí zi yǐ jué chū shèng fù de zhì lì duì kàng huó dòng
Word origin
棋 (qí, "board game") combines 木 (mù, "wood"), which recalls traditional wooden boards and pieces, with 其 (qí, "that"), which supplies the sound.
Usage tips
- English has a narrower everyday label for one board game, while Chinese has a broader noun for the whole family, so context or an added game name supplies precision.
Other meanings
- gonoun
- shoginoun
- Chinese chessnoun
Related words
- 棋艺qí yìchess-playing skillnoun
- 棋谱qí pǔrecord of a chess gamenoun