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胝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胝zhīcorn, callusx, 9 strokes, radical ⺼
胝zhīcallousunknown, 9 strokes, radical ⺼
zhī(zhi1) T1
  1. 1corn, callus
  2. 2callous
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March 24, 2026

胝zhī(zhi1)

The character 胝 (zhī) refers to a callus or a hardened area of skin that develops as a response to repeated friction or pressure. It can also metaphorically describe a person who is emotionally callous or insensitive. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in medical or anatomical contexts.

Strokes9Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of calluses and their treatment can relate to discussions about the body's response to stress and environmental factors, highlighting the importance of skin health in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 胝 as a shield (the shape of the character resembles a shield) protecting the skin from damage. Imagine a corn on your foot that forms a shield-like barrier due to constant pressure. The pronunciation 'zhī' can be remembered by associating it with 'she' (sounds similar) who has toughened feet from running.

Meanings of 胝

zhī(zhi1)
1corn, callus
2callous
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 胝

胝Simplified
9Strokes
⺼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 胝

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Podcast: 胝

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AI Study Notes for 胝

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 胝 with similar characters like 硬 (yìng, hard) or 疼 (téng, pain), which refer to different concepts. This character is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation. It is often seen in medical terminology, so understanding its context is vital.

HSK Study Tips

While 胝 is not included in the HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners at the advanced level to explore specialized vocabulary related to health and anatomy. Students should focus on the radicals and components to better understand how characters are constructed in this field.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胝 with 糖 (táng, sugar) due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 胝 relates to skin conditions, while 糖 refers to sweet substances. Also, some may incorrectly use 胝 in casual speech; it's more appropriate in formal or medical discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胝

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Etymology of 胝

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

flesh

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

Origin

胝 = ⺼ + 氐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 胝

IDS Structure⿰⺼氐
胝Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
氐Di1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 胝?

How to say corn, callus in Chinese

“corn, callus” in Chinese is胝zhī

The character 胝 (zhī) refers to a callus or a hardened area of skin that develops as a response to repeated friction or pressure. It can also metaphorically describe a person who is emotionally callous or insensitive. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in medical or anatomical contexts.

When to use 胝

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 胝 with similar characters like 硬 (yìng, hard) or 疼 (téng, pain), which refer to different concepts. This character is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation. It is often seen in medical terminology, so understanding its context is vital.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 胝 with 糖 (táng, sugar) due to similar pronunciation. Remember, 胝 relates to skin conditions, while 糖 refers to sweet substances. Also, some may incorrectly use 胝 in casual speech; it's more appropriate in formal or medical discussions.

Write 胝

胝

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

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Grammar Patterns of 胝

胝 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

胼____质的染剂是苯胺蓝, 间苯二酚蓝和玫红酸.

Callose stains are aniline blue, resorcin blue and rosolic acid.

Example Sentences for 胝 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
胼胝质的染剂是苯胺蓝, 间苯二酚蓝和玫红酸.

pián zhī zhì de rǎn jì shì běn àn lán, , jiān běn èr fēn lán hé méi hóng.

Callose stains are aniline blue, resorcin blue and rosolic acid.

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Word Family of 胝

Words Containing This Character4
胼胝callus
胝zhīcallous
胼胝体corpus callosum胼胝體
胼手胝足with callouses on hands and feet (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 胝

What does 胼胝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 胝

It primarily refers to a callus or corn, but it is not commonly used in daily conversations.

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