起 qǐ — to rise; to raise; to get up
我每天七点起床。Wǒ měi tiān qī diǎn qǐ chuáng.I get up at seven every day.
Common words: 一起 (yī qǐ)、起来 (qǐ lai)、对不起 (duì bu qǐ)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to raise"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to raise", including 起 (qǐ), 支 (zhī), 举 (jǔ), 养 (yǎng), 升 (shēng), 扬 (yáng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to raise" covers 9 different Chinese characters — 起 (qǐ), 支 (zhī), 举 (jǔ), 养 (yǎng), 升 (shēng), 扬 (yáng), 抬 (tái), 饲 (sì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 9 characters do not share a sound — their readings span qǐ, zhī, jǔ, yǎng, shēng, yáng, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 起 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 起 qǐto rise; to raise; to get upUseful words: 一起, 起来
- 支 zhī(a measure word); to support; to sustain; to erect; to raise; branchUseful words: 支持, 支付
- 举 jǔto lift; to hold up; to cite; to enumerate; to act; to raiseUseful words: 举行, 举手
- 养 yǎnggive birth; keep (pets); to support; to bring sb. up; to raise (pig; etc.)Useful words: 营养, 培养
- 升 shēngto raise; to hoist; to promote; pint; ascend; peacefulUseful words: 上升, 毫升
Common words for these 9 "to raise" characters
Anchor each of these 9 characters in a word you can picture — start with 起 (qǐ) — so "to raise" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
一起yī qǐ(in) the same place; together; in company (with); altogether起来qǐ laito stand up; to get up对不起duì bu qǐI'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down支持zhī chíto be in favor of; to support; to back; support支付zhī fùto pay (money)支配zhī pèito control; to dominate; to allocate举行jǔ xíngto hold (a meeting, ceremony etc)举手jǔ shǒuto raise a hand; to put up one's hand (as signal)举办jǔ bànto conduct; to hold (an event)营养yíng yǎngnutrition; nourishment
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 9 ways to say "to raise".
支 zhī — (a measure word); to support; to sustain; to erect; to raise; branch
请借给我一支铅笔。Qǐng jiè gěi wǒ yì zhī qiān bǐ.Please lend me a pencil.
Common words: 支持 (zhī chí)、支付 (zhī fù)、支配 (zhī pèi)
举 jǔ — to lift; to hold up; to cite; to enumerate; to act; to raise
有问题请举手。Yǒu wèn tí qǐng jǔ shǒu.If you have a question, please raise your hand.
Common words: 举行 (jǔ xíng)、举手 (jǔ shǒu)、举办 (jǔ bàn)
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)
升 shēng — to raise; to hoist; to promote; pint; ascend; peaceful
国旗在广场上冉冉升起。Guó qí zài guǎng chǎng shàng rǎn rǎn shēng qǐ.The national flag slowly rises over the square.
Common words: 上升 (shàng shēng)、毫升 (háo shēng)、提升 (tí shēng)
扬 yáng — hurl; to raise; to scatter
国旗在风中高高飘扬。Guó qí zài fēng zhōng gāo gāo piāo yáng.The national flag flutters high in the wind.
Common words: 表扬 (biǎo yáng)、赞扬 (zàn yáng)、宣扬 (xuān yáng)
抬 tái — to lift; to raise; (of two or more persons) to carry
我们一起把这张桌子抬过去。Wǒ men yì qǐ bǎ zhè zhāng zhuō zi tái guò qù.Let us carry this table over together.
Common words: 抬头 (tái tóu)、抬起 (tái qǐ)、抬高 (tái gāo)
饲 sì — to raise; to rear; to feed
农民每天定时给猪喂饲料。Nóng mín měi tiān dìng shí gěi zhū wèi sì liào.The farmer feeds the pigs at fixed times every day.
Common words: 饲养 (sì yǎng)、饲料 (sì liào)、饲主 (sì zhǔ)
All 9 characters
Open 起、支、举 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.