Definition
起 (qǐ) as a verb means 'to get up, to rise' — it is broader than 起床 (qǐ chuáng, specifically getting out of bed) and 起来 (qǐ lái, which often serves as a verb complement indicating upward movement or beginning). As a classifier, 起 is used for groups of people or incidents (e.g., 一起人, 一起事故), while 伙 (huǒ) is more colloquial for groups.
verb
to get upto rise
classifier
for groups of peoplefor incidents
Easily confused
- 赶gǎnlook-aliketo catch (a vehicle, event), to make it in time for
- 气qìsound-alike(noun) air; gas
- 赴fùlook-aliketo go to (a formal event or place)
- 其qísound-alike(possessive pronoun: his, her, its, their (used before a noun)
- 陡dǒulook-alikesteep, precipitous
- 七qīsound-alikeseven
- 越yuèlook-alike(adverb, in structure '越A越B') the more... the more
- 骑qísound-aliketo ride (a horse, bike, or other vehicle one sits astride)
- 期qīsound-alike(classifier) for issues of a periodical (magazine, newspaper, etc.)
- 齐qísound-alike(adjective) neat, even, uniform
Examples
- 。Tā měitiān zǎoshang liù diǎn qǐ chuáng.He gets up at six every morning.
- 起。Tā zǎochen qǐ dé zǎo.He gets up early in the morning.
- 起。Tāmen fēnchéng liǎng qǐ qù lǚxíng.They divided into two groups and went travelling.
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