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榷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
榷quèfootbridge; levy, toll; monopolyg, 14 strokes, radical 木
què(que4) T4
  1. 1footbridge; levy, toll; monopoly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

榷què(que4)

The character 榷 (què) primarily refers to the concepts of a toll or levy, particularly in the context of taxation or trade. It can also imply a monopoly, where one entity has exclusive control over a particular market or commodity, suggesting economic dominance or restriction in commerce.

Strokes14Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese commerce, tolls and levies were critical in regulating trade routes and markets, which often led to monopolistic practices in certain regions, shaping early economic policies.

Memory Tip

Imagine a toll booth (the footbridge) where you must stop and pay to cross. The character 榷 features the radical for wood (木), representing the structure of the toll booth, and the phonetic element que (却), which sounds like 'check'—as in checking your toll before crossing.

Meanings of 榷

què(que4)
1footbridge; levy, toll; monopoly
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 榷

榷Simplified
14Strokes
木Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 榷

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Podcast: 榷

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AI Study Notes for 榷

Usage Notes

榷 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in economic discussions. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, as it is less common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to trade or taxation.

HSK Study Tips

While 榷 is not included in the HSK curriculum, it connects with economic vocabulary that learners might encounter in advanced studies. Students should focus on the contexts where this word appears, particularly in business and trade discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 榷 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, using 'què' interchangeably with 'què' (却), which means 'but' or 'however', can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you are using the correct context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 榷

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Etymology of 榷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)隺
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 榷

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half隺 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywood
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 榷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 榷?

Decomposition of 榷

IDS Structure⿰木隺
榷Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
隺hu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 榷?

How to say footbridge; levy, toll; monopoly in Chinese

“footbridge; levy, toll; monopoly” in Chinese is榷què

The character 榷 (què) primarily refers to the concepts of a toll or levy, particularly in the context of taxation or trade. It can also imply a monopoly, where one entity has exclusive control over a particular market or commodity, suggesting economic dominance or restriction in commerce.

When to use 榷

榷 is typically used in formal contexts, especially in economic discussions. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, as it is less common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to trade or taxation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 榷 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, using 'què' interchangeably with 'què' (却), which means 'but' or 'however', can lead to misunderstandings. Always ensure you are using the correct context.

Write 榷

榷

Practice writing 榷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 榷

Words Containing This Character2
商榷to discuss
榷quèfootbridge
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 商榷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 榷

榷 is mostly used in formal discussions regarding economics, trade, and taxation.

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