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吸

to breathe; to suck in; to absorb; to inhale

6 strokes Dict coverage rank #803 U+5438

How 吸 is formed

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

口 (semantic, “mouth”) + 及 (phonetic, jí)

components: 口 及

How to remember it

inhale · Heisig RSH #628

口 mouth + outstretched hands

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

Phonetic series: characters sharing the sound component 及

Siblings built with the same phonetic component 及 (jí) — compare how they read:

CharacterPinyinMeaning
及 sound component jí to extend; to reach; and; in time
级 jí level, rank; class, grade
极 jí extreme, top; final, furthest, utmost; pole
圾 jī garbage, rubbish; shaking; danger
汲 jí to draw water at a well; to imbibe
岌 jí perilous, hazardous; steep, high
笈 jí bamboo box used carry books
趿 tā to tread on; slipshod
芨 jí Chinese elder tree

Words containing 吸

WordPinyinMeaning
地心吸力 dì xīn xī lì Earth's gravitational pull
吸气器 xī qì qì aspirator
异性相吸 yì xìng xiāng xī opposite polarities attract; (fig.) opposite sexes attract; opposites attract
吸入器 xī rù qì inhaler
二级头呼吸器 èr jí tóu hū xī qì (scuba diving) regulator; demand valve
血吸虫病 xuè xī chóng bìng schistosomiasis
备用二级头呼吸器 bèi yòng èr jí tóu hū xī qì (scuba diving) backup regulator; octopus
同类相吸 tóng lèi xiāng xī Like attracts like.
口吸盘 kǒu xī pán oral sucker (e.g. on bloodsucking parasite)
吸铁石 xī tiě shí magnet
倒吸一口凉气 dào xī yī kǒu liáng qì to gasp (with amazement or shock etc); to feel a chill run down one's spine; to have one's…
吸水 xī shuǐ absorbent
吸地 xī dì to vacuum the floor
人工呼吸 rén gōng hū xī artificial respiration (medicine)
吸烟区 xī yān qū smoking area
吸金 xī jīn money-spinning; moneymaking
呼吸调节器 hū xī tiáo jié qì regulator (diving)
吸引眼球 xī yǐn yǎn qiú to attract attention; to catch attention
吸气 xī qì to inhale; to breathe in
吸力 xī lì (physics) attractive force (gravitational, magnetic, electrostatic etc); suction; (fig.) a…