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鞋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xiéshoeHSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
xié>双[shuāng],隻HSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
xié>只[zhī]HSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
xiéshoes, footwear in generalHSK 3, n, 15 strokes, radical 革, rank #1238, Medium
xié(xie2) T2
  1. 1shoe
  2. 2>双[shuāng],隻
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
xié(xie2)

鞋 (xié) refers to shoes or footwear in general. It is commonly used to describe various types of shoes, whether formal, casual, or sports-related. This term is often encountered in shopping, fashion discussions, and daily conversations about clothing.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#1238DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, shoes can symbolize status and style. For instance, certain brands of shoes are seen as status symbols, much like in Western cultures, but there is also an emphasis on the practicality and comfort of footwear due to the walking habits in many cities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shoe (鞋) walking on a path made of 'X' shapes. The 'X' can represent the two parts of the shoe — the sole and the upper. The pronunciation 'xié' sounds like 'share,' as if you are sharing your stylish shoes with friends.

Meanings of 鞋

xié(xie2)
1shoe
2shoes, footwear in general
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鞋

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1238Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 鞋

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AI Study Notes for 鞋

Quick Contrast

靴 (xuē) refers specifically to boots, while 鞋 (xié) is a more general term for shoes.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a shoe (鞋) walking on a path made of 'X' shapes. The 'X' can represent the two parts of the shoe — the sole and the upper. The pronunciation 'xié' sounds like 'share,' as if you are sharing your stylish shoes with friends.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is using the wrong measure word; remember that '双' (shuāng) is used for pairs of shoes. This term is informal and can be used in everyday conversations, but be cautious with tone as '鞋' has a flat tone that can be confused with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although '鞋' is not on the HSK list, it is essential for HSK Level 1 and 2 students as it connects to daily life vocabulary related to clothing and shopping. Focus on its use in phrases about buying or describing shoes.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, shoes can symbolize status and style. For instance, certain brands of shoes are seen as status symbols, much like in Western cultures, but there is also an emphasis on the practicality and comfort of footwear due to the walking habits in many cities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鞋 with '靴' (xuē) to refer to boots, using them interchangeably. The correct usage is '鞋' for shoes in general and '靴' specifically for boots.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鞋

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Etymology of 鞋

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

Phonosemantic compound. 革 represents the meaning and 圭 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鞵.

Memory Hint

leather

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鞋?

Decomposition of 鞋

IDS Structure⿰革圭
Full Character
=
ge2
left
gui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鞋?

Write 鞋

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 鞋

鞋 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这双____九百九十九块。

This pair of shoes is 999 yuan.

Common Confusions with 鞋

vs
jiě

Similar sound and some visual similarity.

vs
xiē

Similar pronunciation, but different meaning and usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "shoe"?

or

Example Sentences for 鞋 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你不介意我把鞋子脱了吧?

nǐ bù jiè yì wǒ bǎ xié zǐ tuō le bā?

You don't mind if I take my shoes off, do you?
2
一脚蹬比系带鞋容易穿。

yī jiǎo dēng bǐ xì dài xié róng yì chuān。

Slip-on shoes are easier to put on than lace-ups.
3
他穿戴整齐,鞋都穿好了。

tā chuān dài zhěng qí, , xié dū chuān hǎo。

He was fully dressed, including shoes.
4
我的鞋跟儿给铺好的石头磨坏了。

wǒ de xié gēn ér gěi pū hǎo de shí tóu mó huài le。

I scuffed the heel of my shoe on the stonework.
5
他给人的感觉是特别偏爱穿跑步鞋。

tā gěi rén de gǎn jué shì tè bié piān ài chuān pǎo bù xié。

He has demonstrated a strong preference for being shod in running shoes.
6
他妈妈穿上牛仔裤和平跟鞋,看上去年轻了10岁。

tā mā mā chuān shàng niú zī kù hé píng gēn xié, , kàn shàng qù nián qīng10 le。

His mother looked ten years younger in jeans and flats.
7
我每天都穿那双旧鞋,有一只鞋底已经脱胶了。

wǒ měi tiān dū chuān nà shuāng jiù xié, , yǒu yī zhī xié dǐ yǐ jīng tuō jiāo。

I wear my old shoes every day. One sole has come unglued.
8
快点儿吧,多萝西。别去管你的鞋子了,它们很快就会干的。

kuài diǎn ér bā, , duō luó。 xī 。 bié qù guǎn nǐ de xié, zǐ le , tā mén hěn kuài jiù。

Dorothy, come on. Never mind your shoes. They'll soon dry off.
9
屋内凌乱不堪:抽屉都掉落出来,鞋靴东一只西一只满地都是。

wū nèi líng luàn bù kān: : chōu tì dū diào luò chū, lái , xié xuē dōng yī zhī xī yī zhī mǎn dì。

Inside all was disorder: drawers fallen out, shoes and boots scattered.
10
今天下午, 在东古一家鞋厂起火.

jīn tiān xià wǔ, , zài dōng gǔ yī jiā xié chǎng qǐ.

This evening, a fire broke out in a shoe factory in Dobong - gu.

Cultural Notes for 鞋

💡Did you know?

在中国,鞋子不仅是日常穿着的物品,还承载着文化意义。例如,红色鞋子在婚礼上是象征好运的颜色。

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, shoes can symbolize status and style. For instance, certain brands of shoes are seen as status symbols, much like in Western cultures, but there is also an emphasis on the practicality and comfort of footwear due to the walking habits in many cities.

Word Family of 鞋

Compounds1
Words Containing This Character20
xiéshoe
鞋子shoe
高跟鞋gāogēnxiéhigh-heeled shoes
拖鞋tuōxiéslippers
皮鞋píxiéleather shoes
鞋带shoelace鞋帶
运动鞋sports shoes運動鞋
球鞋qiúxiéathletic shoes
鞋底sole (of a shoe)
凉鞋liángxiésandal涼鞋
鞋跟heel (of a shoe)
鞋匠shoemaker
鞋垫insole鞋墊
布鞋cloth shoes
跑鞋running shoes
溜冰鞋skating shoes
草鞋straw sandals
冰鞋skates
破鞋broken shoes
鞋油shoe polish
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 鞋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鞋

Common phrases with 鞋 include '鞋子' (xiézi), which means 'shoes' or 'footwear,' and '运动鞋' (yùndòngxié), meaning 'sports shoes.' These phrases are useful when shopping or discussing footwear styles.