沏 (qī) — to steep (tea), to brew (tea)

Definition

沏 (qī) means to brew tea by pouring hot water over leaves — more specific than 冲 or 泡, which are general terms for infusing any drink or for soaking. Used almost exclusively with tea.

verb
to steep (tea)to brew (tea)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 沏。
    Wǒ měi tiān zǎo chén dōu qī yì bēi chá.
    I brew a cup of tea every morning.
  • 。
    Yòng zhè ge chá hú qī chá wèi dào tè bié hǎo.
    Using this teapot to brew tea tastes especially good.
  • 沏，。
    Tā xǐ huan qī lǜ chá, bù xǐ huan hóng chá.
    He likes to brew green tea, not black tea.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
切
切qiè沏qī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沏 combines 氵 (water) with 切; 切 gives the sound.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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