How is 刻 pronounced?

刻 is pronounced “kè” in pinyin.

What HSK level is 刻?

刻 belongs to HSK 3 in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.

How do you write 刻?

Follow the stroke-order animation above; 刻 is written using standard stroke order. Practice it in the writing trainer.

HSK 3verb

刻

kè

刻 (kè) means “quarter (hour); moment; to carve; to engrave; to cut; oppressive; classifier for short time intervals”. It is an HSK 3 Chinese character in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.

Stroke order

Practice writingUnlock HSK 3 required

Example

现在三点一刻。

Xiànzài sān diǎn yī kè.

It's now 3:15.

Words containing 刻

雕刻diāo kèto carve; to engrave; carving 刻苦kè kǔhardworking; assiduous 立刻lì kèforthwith; immediate; prompt; promptly; straightway; thereupon; at once 深刻shēn kèprofound; deep; deep-going 时刻shí kètime; juncture; moment; period of time; constantly; always 刻不容缓kè bù róng huǎnto brook no delay; to demand immediate action 片刻piàn kèshort period of time; a moment 此刻cǐ kèthis moment; now; at present

More HSK 3 vocabulary

HSK 3 →

阿姨ā yímaternal aunt; step-mother; childcare worker; nursemaid; woman of similar age to one's parents (term of address used by child)啊āinterjection of surprise; Ah!; Oh!矮ǎilow; short (in length)爱好ài hàoto like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on; interest; hobby 安静ān jìngquiet; peaceful; calm 把bǎto hold; to grasp; to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate; handlebar; classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles; (used to put the object before the verb: 把 + {noun} + {verb})班bānsurname Ban 搬bānto move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky); to shift; to copy indiscriminately 办法bàn fǎmeans; method; way (of doing sth)办公室bàn gōng shìoffice; business premises; bureau 半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half 帮忙bāng mángto help; to lend a hand; to do a favor; to do a good turn

Frequently asked questions

What does 刻 mean?: 刻 (kè) means “quarter (hour); moment; to carve; to engrave; to cut; oppressive; classifier for short time intervals”. It is an HSK 3 word.
How is 刻 pronounced?: 刻 is pronounced “kè” in pinyin.
What HSK level is 刻?: 刻 belongs to HSK 3 in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.
How do you write 刻?: Follow the stroke-order animation above; 刻 is written using standard stroke order. Practice it in the writing trainer.

Updated: 2026-05-27