HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
leather
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
skin
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
fur
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
>张[zhāng]
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
pico- (one trillionth)
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
naughty
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
皮
pí
skin, hide, fur, feathers
HSK 6, n, 5 strokes, radical 皮, rank #1314, Medium
pí(Pi2) T2
1leather
2skin
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March 24, 2026
皮pí(Pi2)
The character 皮 (pí) primarily refers to skin, leather, or fur. It is commonly used in contexts related to animal hides or the outer covering of living beings, and can also denote someone who is mischievous or naughty. In a broader sense, it can be used in scientific contexts, such as referring to the prefix 'pico-' in measurements.
Strokes5Radical皮Frequency#1314DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of skin (皮) is significant as it is believed to be connected to one's overall health and vitality. The quality of a person's skin can reflect their internal health, which is a common belief in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a playful dog with a shiny coat of leather. The dog’s fur is soft, just like skin, and '皮' sounds like 'pee' which reminds you of a naughty puppy getting into trouble. Visualize the puppy wearing a leather collar that represents the word '皮' and its connection to skin and fur.
Meanings of 皮
pí(Pi2)
1leather
2skin
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 皮
皮Simplified
5Strokes
皮Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#1314Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 皮
Podcast: 皮
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AI Study Notes for 皮
Quick Contrast
皮 (pí) vs 毛 (máo) — use 皮 for skin or leather, while 毛 refers specifically to hair or fur.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a playful dog with a shiny coat of leather. The dog’s fur is soft, just like skin, and '皮' sounds like 'pee' which reminds you of a naughty puppy getting into trouble. Visualize the puppy wearing a leather collar that represents the word '皮' and its connection to skin and fur.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 皮 with similar-sounding characters. It is generally informal and not used in very formal writing. Common collocations include 皮肤 (pífū - skin) and 皮革 (pígé - leather). Make sure to use the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 皮 is not listed in the official HSK levels, it can be connected to other body-related terms like 身体 (shēntǐ - body) at HSK 2. Focus on recognizing how this character can be combined with others to form new words.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of skin (皮) is significant as it is believed to be connected to one's overall health and vitality. The quality of a person's skin can reflect their internal health, which is a common belief in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 皮 with its homophones, mistakenly using it in contexts related to other body parts. For example, saying 皮肉 (píròu - skin meat) instead of 肉 (ròu - meat) can lead to confusion. Always use 皮 specifically for skin or leather contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 皮
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Grammar Patterns of 皮
皮 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 8 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.
When the lease ran out the family moved to Campigny.
8
这种树很容易辨认，因为它有着非常漂亮的银色树皮。
zhè zhǒng shù hěn róng yì biàn rèn， ， yīn wéi tā yǒu zháo fēi cháng piāo liàng de yín sè shù。
This tree is always recognizable by its extremely beautiful silvery bark.
9
湿疹是一种常见的皮肤病，通常具遗传性。
shī zhěn shì yī zhǒng cháng jiàn de pí fū bìng， ， tōng cháng jù yí chuán。
Eczema is a common skin complaint which often runs in families.
10
比赛开始的时候形势大好，斯皮德以一记精彩的进球先拔头筹。
bǐ sài kāi shǐ de shí hòu xíng shì dà hǎo， ， sī pí dé yǐ yī jì jīng cǎi de jìn qiú xiān bá tóu。
It all started so promisingly when Speed scored a tremendous first goal.
Cultural Notes for 皮
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, the skin is viewed as a reflection of the body's internal health. Practitioners believe that skin conditions can indicate issues with organs like the lungs and kidneys.
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of skin (皮) is significant as it is believed to be connected to one's overall health and vitality. The quality of a person's skin can reflect their internal health, which is a common belief in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 皮
Compounds53
被bei4quilt
破po4broken
波Bo1Poland
彼bi3that
玻bo1glass
疲pi2weary
披pi1to drape over one's shoulders
坡po1slope
皱zhou4to wrinkle
颇Po1surname Po
簸bo3to winnow
跛bo3lame
铍pi1beryllium
皴cun1chapped, cracked
皲jun1chapped, cracked
帔pei4cape, robe, skirt
狓
皻cu3pimples, blotches
皽
诐
陂bei1dam, embankment; reservoir
髲
鲏
佊
岥
怶
旇
柀
皯
皰pao4acne
皳
皵
皶
皷
皸
皹
皺zhou4wrinkles, creases, folds
皼
皾
秛
紴
翍
耚
蚾
詖
貱
鈹
鞁
頗po1rather, quite; partial, biased
駊
骳
鮍
麬
Words Containing This Character20
皮pískin
皮肤pífūskin皮膚
皮带pídàistrap皮帶
眼皮eyelid
皮鞋píxiéleather shoes
皮质cortex皮質
调皮tiáopínaughty調皮
真皮dermis (layer within the skin containing sense of touch)
皮革pígéleather
上皮epithelium
牛皮cowhide
皮包píbāohandbag
内皮(med.) endothelium內皮
皮球píqiúball (made of rubber, leather etc)
头皮scalp頭皮
表皮epidermis
鸡皮疙瘩goose pimples雞皮疙瘩
肚皮belly
橡皮xiàngpírubber
皮疹a rash
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 被 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 皮
皮 (pí) refers to 'skin' or 'fur,' while 皮毛 (pímáo) specifically means 'fur' or 'hair' of an animal. In other words, 皮 is a broader term that encompasses the outer layer of various organisms, while 皮毛 is more focused on animal covering.
Yes, 皮 (pí) can also be a surname in Chinese culture. It's not as common as some other surnames, but it is officially recognized and used by some individuals.
皮 (pí) primarily means 'skin' or 'fur' in Chinese. It can also refer to the concept of something being 'naughty' or mischievous. Additionally, it's used in specific contexts like measuring in the metric system, where it can denote pico- (one trillionth).
To use 皮 (pí) in a sentence, you might say '这件衣服是皮的' (zhè jiàn yīfú shì pí de), meaning 'This piece of clothing is made of leather.' It can also appear in phrases like '皮肤' (pífū), which means 'skin.'
Some common phrases include 皮肤 (pífū - skin) and 皮革 (pígé - leather).
No, it can also imply a playful or naughty character when describing someone's behavior.
