些 (xiē) is a Chinese character meaning “some”. It is written from 此 (this; here) and 二 (two), one above the other, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “some; a few”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
此 + 二
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形笔画核验（第 1–6 笔构成 此，第 7–8 笔构成 二）
Memory aid
此 (this) sits on top of 二 (two): you point and say "this" — then point again. Not one thing, not all of them. Just some.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 这些zhè xiēthese些 = xiēHSK 1
- 那些nà xiēthose些 = xiēHSK 1
- 某些mǒu xiēcertain; some些 = xiē
Go deeper
All readings
some; a few
some; a few; a number of (used after 这/那/一 and after adjectives to mean "a bit more")
表示不确定的数量，若干。用在「这、那、一」后面，也用在形容词后表示程度稍微增加。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 这些zhè xiēthese些 = xiēHSK 1
- 那些nà xiēthose些 = xiēHSK 1
- 某些mǒu xiēcertain; some些 = xiē
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 些 mean?
些 (xiē) means some; a few; a number of (used after 这/那/一 and after adjectives to mean "a bit more").
How do you pronounce 些?
It is pronounced xiē.
What parts is 些 made of?
此 (this; here) and 二 (two), one above the other. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形笔画核验（第 1–6 笔构成 此，第 7–8 笔构成 二）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 些 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 些?
二. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 些?
Common ones are 这些 and 那些. The reading of 些 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.