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March 24, 2026
六liù(liu4)
The character 六 (liù) represents the number six in Mandarin Chinese. It is commonly used in counting, dates, and various contexts involving numbers. Understanding this character is essential for basic arithmetic and everyday communication in Chinese.
Strokes4Radical八Frequency#802DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the number six is considered lucky and is often associated with smoothness and success. It is common to see the number used in auspicious phrases or during celebrations.
Memory Tip
Imagine the character 六 as a figure with two arms raised in the air, representing the number six. You can think of it as someone celebrating their sixth birthday, excited and joyful, which helps you remember both the shape and the sound 'liù.'
Meanings of 六
liù(liu4)
1six
26
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 六
六Simplified
4Strokes
八Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#802Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 六
Podcast: 六
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AI Study Notes for 六
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine the character 六 as a figure with two arms raised in the air, representing the number six. You can think of it as someone celebrating their sixth birthday, excited and joyful, which helps you remember both the shape and the sound 'liù.'
Usage Notes
六 is often used in informal contexts and when counting or referring to numbers. Common mistakes include confusing it with the character for 'five' (五, wǔ) due to similar pronunciation. Be mindful of the tone; 六 has the fourth tone, pronounced with a falling pitch.
HSK Study Tips
As part of HSK Level 1, 六 is fundamental for learners to familiarize themselves with basic numbers. Students should practice using it in simple sentences and counting exercises, as it lays the groundwork for understanding larger numbers.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the number six is considered lucky and is often associated with smoothness and success. It is common to see the number used in auspicious phrases or during celebrations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 六 (liù) with 五 (wǔ) due to the similar pronunciation pattern. For example, saying '我有五个苹果' (I have five apples) instead of '我有六个苹果' (I have six apples) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 六
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Grammar Patterns of 六
六 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 2 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.
It's on the fifth floor, so we'd better take the elevator.
Cultural Notes for 六
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the number six is considered lucky and is often associated with smoothness and success. It is common to see the number used in auspicious phrases or during celebrations.
Word Family of 六
Compounds12
帝di4emperor
产chan3to give birth
商Shang1the Shang dynasty, 16th to 11th century BC
旁pang2beside
冥ming2dark, gloomy, night; deep
兖Yan3to establish; a province
宍
兗yan3to establish; a province
啇di4stalk, stem, root, foot, base
昗
竒
豙yi4
Words Containing This Character20
六liùsix
周六Saturday週六
六月June
星期六Saturday
六合the universe
五颜六色wǔyánliùsèmulti-colored五顏六色
六月份June
十六16
六朝Six Dynasties (220-589)
第六感sixth sense (i.e. intuition, premonition, telepathy etc)
六十sixty
礼拜六Saturday禮拜六
五脏六腑five viscera and six bowels (TCM)五臟六腑
六盘水Liupanshui prefecture-level city in west Guizhou 貴州|贵州[Guìzhōu]六盤水
六盘水市Liupanshui prefecture-level city in Guizhou 貴州|贵州[Guìzhōu]六盤水市
六安Lu'an prefecture-level city in Anhui
马六甲海峡Strait of Malacca馬六甲海峽
六分之一one sixth
六一儿童节Children's Day (June 1st), PRC national holiday for children under 14六一兒童節
土卫六Titan (moon of Saturn), aka Saturn VI土衛六
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 帝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 六
You pronounce 六 as 'liù' with a falling tone.
The character for 'seven' is 七 (qī).
Yes, 六 can be used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to the number.
