Usage of 起
The character 起 (qǐ) primarily means 'to get up' or 'to rise,' commonly used when talking about waking up or standing up. It also means 'to start' or 'to initiate,' often used in formal or scheduled events like meetings or classes. Additionally, 起 can describe the occurrence of events, such as accidents or natural phenomena.
Common Collocations
- 起床 (qǐchuáng): to get out of bed
- 起飞 (qǐfēi): to take off (airplane)
- 起作用 (qǐ zuòyòng): to take effect
- 发生起 (fāshēng qǐ): to occur, to happen
Notes
When used to mean 'to get up,' 起 often combines with 床 (chuáng) to form 起床. For starting events, 起 is often paired with 始 (shǐ) as 起始. Avoid confusing 起 with 开 (kāi), which also means 'to start' but is more general and used for opening or turning on devices.
Register and Tone
起 is neutral in tone and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese. It appears frequently in daily conversation and formal contexts.