下 xià — under; second (of two parts); next (week; etc.); lower; below
请把书放在桌子下面。Qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài zhuō zi xià mian.Please put the book under the table.
Common words: 下午 (xià wǔ)、下次 (xià cì)、下班 (xià bān)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "etc."
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "etc.", including 下 (xià), 只 (zhǐ), 第 (dì), 条 (tiáo), 请 (qǐng), 养 (yǎng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "etc." covers 16 different Chinese characters — 下 (xià), 只 (zhǐ), 第 (dì), 条 (tiáo), 请 (qǐng), 养 (yǎng), 份 (fèn), 爷 (yé) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 16 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xià, zhǐ, dì, tiáo, qǐng, yǎng, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 下 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 下 xiàunder; second (of two parts); next (week; etc.); lower; belowUseful words: 下午, 下次
- 只 zhǐearth-spirit; peace; (a measure word; for birds and some animals; etc.); singleUseful words: 只要, 只能
- 第 dì(prefix before a number; for ordering numbers; e.g. "first"; "number two"; etc)Useful words: 第二, 第一
- 条 tiáomeasure word for long; thin things (i.e. ribbon; river; etc.); a strip; itemUseful words: 面条儿, 条件
- 请 qǐngto ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal; etc); to requestUseful words: 请问, 请假
Common words for these 16 "etc." characters
Anchor each of these 16 characters in a word you can picture — start with 下 (xià) — so "etc." turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
下午xià wǔafternoon; p.m.下次xià cìnext time下班xià bānto finish work; to get off work; next service (train, bus etc)只要zhǐ yàoso long as; provided; if只能zhǐ néngcan only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choice只是zhǐ shìmerely; only; just; nothing but第二dì èrsecond; number two; next; secondary第一dì yīfirst; most important; primary; foremost第一手dì yī shǒufirst-hand面条儿miàn tiáo rcolloquial (-r) form of 面条
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 16 ways to say "etc.".
只 zhǐ — earth-spirit; peace; (a measure word; for birds and some animals; etc.); single
我只想安静地休息一下。Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng ān jìng de xiū xi yí xià.I just want to rest quietly for a while.
Common words: 只要 (zhǐ yào)、只能 (zhǐ néng)、只是 (zhǐ shì)
第 dì — (prefix before a number; for ordering numbers; e.g. "first"; "number two"; etc)
他在比赛中得了第一名。Tā zài bǐ sài zhōng dé le dì yī míng.He won first place in the competition.
Common words: 第二 (dì èr)、第一 (dì yī)、第一手 (dì yī shǒu)
条 tiáo — measure word for long; thin things (i.e. ribbon; river; etc.); a strip; item
我家有一条小狗。Wǒ jiā yǒu yì tiáo xiǎo gǒu.My family has a little dog.
Common words: 面条儿 (miàn tiáo r)、条件 (tiáo jiàn)、面条 (miàn tiáo)
请 qǐng — to ask; to invite; please (do sth); to treat (to a meal; etc); to request
我想请你吃晚饭。Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ chī wǎn fàn.I would like to invite you to dinner.
Common words: 请问 (qǐng wèn)、请假 (qǐng jià)、请进 (qǐng jìn)
养 yǎng — give birth; keep (pets); to support; to bring sb. up; to raise (pig; etc.)
他在家里养了一只小猫。Tā zài jiā lǐ yǎng le yì zhī xiǎo māo.He keeps a kitten at home.
Common words: 营养 (yíng yǎng)、培养 (péi yǎng)、养成 (yǎng chéng)
份 fèn — (a measure word for gifts; copies of a newspaper); copy (of newspaper; magazine; etc.); share
我点了一份米饭和一碗汤。Wǒ diǎn le yí fèn mǐ fàn hé yì wǎn tāng.I ordered a serving of rice and a bowl of soup.
Common words: 月份 (yuè fèn)、身份证 (shēn fèn zhèng)、身份 (shēn fèn)
爷 yé — grandpa; etc.; old gentleman
爷爷喜欢在公园里下棋。Yé ye xǐ huan zài gōng yuán lǐ xià qí.Grandpa likes to play chess in the park.
Common words: 爷爷 (yé ye)、大爷 (dà yé)、姥爷 (lǎo ye)
All 16 characters
Open 下、只、第 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.