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引起 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
引起yǐnqǐto give rise toHSK 4, v, rank #1645, Medium
引起yǐnqǐto lead toHSK 4, v, rank #1645, Medium
引起yǐnqǐto causeHSK 4, v, rank #1645, Medium
引起yǐnqǐto arouseHSK 4, v, rank #1645, Medium
yǐnqǐ(yin3qi3) T3
  1. 1to give rise to
  2. 2to lead to
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March 24, 2026
引起yǐnqǐ(yin3qi3)

引起 (yǐnqǐ) means 'to give rise to' or 'to cause'. It's commonly used in contexts where one event or situation leads to another, such as in discussions about causes of phenomena or events. It implies an active role in triggering a response or effect.

Frequency#1645DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of causation is often linked to the idea of fate and interconnectedness, particularly in traditional beliefs where actions can lead to significant repercussions in life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yin' (引) pulling something towards you, and 'qi' (起) representing it rising up. Visualize pulling a string that causes a balloon to float upwards, illustrating the idea of causing something to happen.

Meanings of 引起

yǐnqǐ(yin3qi3)
1to give rise to
2to lead to
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 引起

引起Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1645Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 引起

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Podcast: 引起

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AI Study Notes for 引起

Quick Contrast

导致 (dǎozhì) — use 引起 (yǐnqǐ) when emphasizing the act of causing, while 导致 (dǎozhì) often implies a more passive result.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'yin' (引) pulling something towards you, and 'qi' (起) representing it rising up. Visualize pulling a string that causes a balloon to float upwards, illustrating the idea of causing something to happen.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 引起 with 造成 (zàochéng), which is more about causing negative outcomes. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but in academic writing, it’s crucial to use it precisely with the right subjects and objects.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 4 word, 引起 connects to other verbs of causation and effect found in this level, such as 造成 (zàochéng) and 导致 (dǎozhì). Focus on practicing its usage in sentences that describe relationships between actions and their consequences.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of causation is often linked to the idea of fate and interconnectedness, particularly in traditional beliefs where actions can lead to significant repercussions in life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 引起 with other similar verbs like 引导 (yǐndǎo, to guide) or 造成 (zàochéng, to cause). For example, saying '引起问题' (to cause problems) is correct, but using it in a context that suggests guidance is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 引起

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Component Characters

引yǐnto draw (e.g. a bow)
HSK 64 strokes弓
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起qǐto rise
HSK 310 strokes走
View full entry

Write 引起

引
起

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

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Grammar Patterns of 引起

引起 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 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.

Related grammar lessons5
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

消息一传出，便____了广泛关注。

As soon as the news spread, it attracted widespread attention.

Example Sentences for 引起 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
牙龈萎缩可能是疾病导致的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。

yá yín wěi suō kě néng shì jí bìng dǎo zhì de， ， yě kě néng jǐn jǐn shì cuò wù de shuā yá fāng shì yǐn qǐ。

Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
2
葡萄酒生产过剩及由此造成的市价低迷引起了经济波动。

pú táo jiǔ shēng chǎn guò shèng jí yóu cǐ zào chéng de shì jià dī mí yǐn qǐ le jīng jì bō dòng。

Overproduction and consequent low market prices for wine caused economic tremors.
3
这件事应引起人们的关注。

zhè jiàn shì yīng yǐn qǐ rén mén de guān zhù。

This should make people sit up and take notice.
4
这则消息在中东总部引起了不安。

zhè zé xiāo xī zài zhōng dōng zǒng bù yǐn qǐ le bù ān。

This message caused perturbation in the Middle East Headquarters.
5
鲍勃死于由他的生活方式引起的心脏病突发。

bào bó sǐ yú yóu tā de shēng huó fāng shì yǐn qǐ de xīn zāng bìng tū fā。

Bob died of a heart attack, brought on by his lifestyle.
6
他正挥手以引起他们的注意。

tā zhèng huī shǒu yǐ yǐn qǐ tā mén de zhù yì。

He was waving his arms to draw their attention.
7
他越来越清楚地认识到引起紧张局势的原因。

tā yuè lái yuè qīng chǔ dì rèn shí dào yǐn qǐ jǐn zhāng jú shì de yuán yīn。

He became more aware of the things that started that tension off.
8
有个人影在走道里一闪而过，引起了他的注意。

yǒu gè rén yǐng zài zǒu dào lǐ yī shǎn ér guò， ， yǐn qǐ le tā de zhù。

A quick movement across the aisle caught his eye.
9
马上去看病，把花粉过敏引起的打喷嚏治好。

mǎ shàng qù kàn bìng， ， bǎ huā fěn guò mǐn yǐn qǐ de dǎ pēn tì zhì。

See your doctor now to beat summer sneezing.
10
事故是由为了看热闹而减速的人引起的。

shì gù shì yóu wéi le kàn rè nào ér jiǎn sù de rén yǐn qǐ de。

The accident was caused by people slowing down to rubber-neck.

Cultural Notes for 引起

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of causation is often linked to the idea of fate and interconnectedness, particularly in traditional beliefs where actions can lead to significant repercussions in life.

Frequently Asked Questions about 引起

You can say, '这个问题引起了大家的关注' (This issue has attracted everyone's attention).