HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to play a wind instrument
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to blast
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to puff
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to boast
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to brag
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to end in failure
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
吹
chuī
to fall through
HSK 4, v, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #1493, Medium
chuī(chui1) T1
1to blow
2to play a wind instrument
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March 24, 2026
吹chuī(chui1)
The character 吹 (chuī) primarily means 'to blow' and is commonly used in contexts involving wind or air, such as blowing up a balloon or playing a wind instrument. It can also refer to boasting or bragging, particularly in informal settings, where someone may exaggerate their achievements.
Strokes7Radical口Frequency#1493DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, boasting is often seen as a negative trait, yet it is humorously acknowledged in everyday conversations. The phrase 吹牛 (to boast) is often used light-heartedly among friends, showing a cultural acceptance of playful exaggeration.
Memory Tip
Imagine a child blowing air into a balloon, making it larger and larger until it pops! The character 吹 looks like a person blowing (the small stroke on top) while the larger bottom part resembles a balloon. The sound 'chuī' can remind you of the sound of wind blowing.
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AI Study Notes for 吹
Quick Contrast
吹 (chuī, to blow) vs 喷 (pēn, to spray) — use 吹 when referring to blowing air, while 喷 is for dispersing liquid.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a child blowing air into a balloon, making it larger and larger until it pops! The character 吹 looks like a person blowing (the small stroke on top) while the larger bottom part resembles a balloon. The sound 'chuī' can remind you of the sound of wind blowing.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 吹 with other characters that involve blowing or air. It’s commonly used in both informal and formal contexts, but its boasting meaning is more suited for casual conversations. Common collocations include 吹牛 (chuī niú, to brag) and 吹笛 (chuī dí, to play the flute).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 吹 connects with other verbs related to sounds and actions. Students should focus on its different meanings and usage in both musical and conversational contexts, practicing sentences that incorporate 吹 to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, boasting is often seen as a negative trait, yet it is humorously acknowledged in everyday conversations. The phrase 吹牛 (to boast) is often used light-heartedly among friends, showing a cultural acceptance of playful exaggeration.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 吹 with similar-sounding verbs like 唱 (chàng, to sing) or 急 (jí, to hurry). For example, saying 吹歌 (chuī gē) instead of 唱歌 (chàng gē, to sing) is incorrect; remember 吹 is for blowing or playing wind instruments.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 吹
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Grammar Patterns of 吹
吹 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
This pattern is used to emphasize the action of blowing or playing an instrument.
❝
他是吹笛子的。
Tā shì chuī dízi de.
He is the one who plays the flute.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
风把我的帽子____走了。
The wind blew my hat away.
Common Confusions with 吹
吹vs垂
chuí
Same pinyin but different meaning.
吹vs追
zhuī
Similar sound but different meaning.
吹气 means to blow air, while 吹 can refer to blowing in a more general sense.
1
他在吹气球。 (He is blowing up a balloon.)
吹气 means to blow air, while 吹 can refer to blowing in a more general sense.
💡Remember 吹气 is specifically about blowing air.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to blow"?
or
Usage Notes for 吹
Confusing 吹 with other verbsCommon Error
Learners often confuse 吹 with verbs like 扔 (to throw) or 听 (to listen). It’s important to remember that 吹 specifically relates to blowing or playing instruments.
A blizzard was blasting great drifts of snow across the lake.
Cultural Notes for 吹
💡Did you know?
在中国，吹口哨被认为是一种不礼貌的行为，尤其是在公共场所。人们通常认为这会引来坏运气。
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, boasting is often seen as a negative trait, yet it is humorously acknowledged in everyday conversations. The phrase 吹牛 (to boast) is often used light-heartedly among friends, showing a cultural acceptance of playful exaggeration.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, bragging is often viewed negatively, while in Chinese culture, boasting can sometimes be seen as a way to engage in friendly banter.
Word Family of 吹
Compounds1
焁
Words Containing This Character20
吹chuīto blow
吹牛chuīniúto talk big
吹嘘to brag吹噓
鼓吹to agitate for
吹捧chuīpěngto flatter
吹风机hair dryer吹風機
吹毛求疵nitpick
吹拂to brush
吹奏to play (wind instruments)
吹干to blow-dry吹乾
自吹自擂to blow one's own trumpet (idiom)
吹牛皮to boast
告吹to fizzle out
电吹风hair dryer電吹風
吹散to disperse
风吹雨打lit. windswept and battered by rain風吹雨打
不费吹灰之力effortless不費吹灰之力
吹气to blow air (into)吹氣
吹口哨to whistle
胡吹to boast wildly
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 吹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吹
Yes, 吹 can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal situations, it may refer to playing an instrument, while in informal conversations, it often relates to boasting or casual speech. Understanding the context is key.
Common phrases include '吹风' (chuī fēng), meaning 'to blow wind' or 'to chill out,' and '吹牛' (chuī niú), which means 'to boast' or 'to talk big.' These phrases reflect the various meanings of the character in different contexts.
You can use 吹 in sentences like '我在吹笛子' (Wǒ zài chuī dízi), which means 'I am playing the flute.' It can also be used in expressions like '别吹牛' (Bié chuī niú), meaning 'Don't brag.'
吹 (chuī) means 'to blow' or 'to play a wind instrument.' It can also refer to actions like puffing or blasting, and is often used in casual contexts to mean boasting or bragging about something.
It means 'to blow' and can also refer to boasting or playing a wind instrument.
Yes, but its meaning related to boasting is more informal.
You can say 吹气 (chuī qì) for 'to blow air' or 吹牛 (chuī niú) for 'to brag'.
