题

題

tí

是 + 页

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

tí (noun) topic; subject; title

tí (noun) question; problem; exam question

tí (verb) to inscribe; to mention

Etymology

Simplified form of 題. Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 是 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "forehead". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Semantic: 页 Phonetic: 是

About

题 is the simplified form of 題, a phonosemantic compound: 是 on the left gives the sound, and 页 (simplified from 頁) on the right, meaning "head", indicates the semantic field. The character originally referred specifically to the forehead. Later, due to sound similarity, it was borrowed as a phonetic loan for the word meaning "title" or "heading" (as of a document), and then extended in usage to any main topic or subject. In contemporary Chinese, 题 also commonly denotes a question, problem, or exercise in academic or testing contexts. The original meaning "forehead" is no longer in use.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个问题很简单。

Zhè gè wèntí hěn jiǎndān.

This problem is very simple.

老师出了新题目。

Lǎoshī chūle xīn tímù.

The teacher gave a new question.

我们今天讨论这个话题。

Wǒmen jīntiān tǎolùn zhè gè huàtí.

We are discussing this topic today.

这本书的主题是爱情。

Zhè běn shū de zhǔtí shì àiqíng.

The theme of this book is love.

他正在做数学习题。

Tā zhèngzài zuò shùxué xítí.

He is doing math exercises.

考试中有一道难题。

Kǎoshì zhōng yǒu yī dào nántí.

There is a difficult problem in the exam.

这个议题需要认真研究。

Zhè gè yìtí xūyào rènzhēn yánjiū.

This issue requires careful study.

记者采访的题材很广泛。

Jìzhě cǎifǎng de tícái hěn guǎngfàn.

The subject matter of the journalist's interview is very broad.

Related Characters

Component: 是

Component: 页

题