棋 is also the simplified spelling of 棊, 碁.
DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
棋
Mandarin · pinyin qí
Meanings
Characters in this entry
- 棋
- qí · chess; any game similar to chess
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
2 · qi2
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
1character link104same-tone records4source references
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 6 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
kei4
Cantonese word readings for 棋. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- board game, usually excluding those played with cards (牌 (pái))
- board game, usually excluding those played with cards (牌 (pái)) — an instance of playing such games (Classifier: 局; 盤／盘)
- board game, usually excluding those played with cards (牌 (pái)) — piece; counter used in such games (Classifier: 枚 m; 隻／只 c)
- (figurative) strategy; plan
- (Cantonese, figurative) pawn; puppet (someone who is controlled by outside force) (Classifier: 隻／只 c)
character
- (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) root, basis, alternative form of 基 (jī)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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