提 (tí) is a Chinese character meaning “to carry (hanging from the hand)”. It is written from 扌 (hand (radical form)) and 是 (to be; right, correct), side by side, and takes 12 strokes. It has a second reading, dī, which turns up in 提防 — here the two readings are two separate things to learn, not one card with two answers.
Build the character for “to lift; to raise”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
扌 + 是
Left–right structure
Structure from: 说文解字（提，挈也。从手是聲）
Memory aid
A hand (扌) next to 是 ("this is it"): the hand reaches over and lifts exactly this one up — to lift, to raise.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
12 strokes
In real words
- 提高tí gāoto raise; to improve提 = tí
- 提供tí gōngto provide; to supply; to offer提 = tíHSK 4
- 提示tí shìto prompt; to give a hint提 = tíHSK 4
- 提倡tí chàngto advocate; to promote提 = tí
- 菩提pú tíbodhi; enlightenment提 = tí
Go deeper
All readings
to lift; to raise
to carry (hanging from the hand); to lift; to raise; to bring up; to mention
垂手拿着有提梁或绳套的东西；使往上移；提出、说起。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 提高tí gāoto raise; to improve提 = tí
- 提供tí gōngto provide; to supply; to offer提 = tíHSK 4
- 提示tí shìto prompt; to give a hint提 = tíHSK 4
- 提倡tí chàngto advocate; to promote提 = tí
- 菩提pú tíbodhi; enlightenment提 = tí
(in 提防) to guard against
used in 提防 dīfang: to be on guard against
用于「提防」：小心防备。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 提防dī fangto be on guard against; to beware of提 = dī
Sound component
是 family
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 提 mean?
提 (tí) means to carry (hanging from the hand); to lift; to raise; to bring up; to mention.
How do you pronounce 提?
Its main reading is tí. It also has a second reading, dī, which only shows up in certain words such as 提防 — so the word tells you the reading, not the character on its own.
Why is 提 sometimes pronounced dī?
Because it is a multi-reading character: each reading carries a different sense, and the word decides which one applies. In 提防 it is read dī.
What parts is 提 made of?
扌 (hand (radical form)) and 是 (to be; right, correct), side by side. The recorded source is: 说文解字（提，挈也。从手是聲）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 提 have?
12. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 提?
扌. 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 提?
Common ones are 提高 and 提供. The reading of 提 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.