吸

Tap the pinyin to hear it

to breathe; to suck in; to absorb; to inhale

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

口 meaning “mouth” + 及 sound ( jí )

Components 口及

inhale · Heisig RSH #628

口 mouth + outstretched hands

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
地心吸力	dì xīn xī lì	Earth's gravitational pull
吸气器	xī qì qì	aspirator
异性相吸	yì xìng xiāng xī	opposite polarities attract; (fig.) opposite sexes attract; opposites attract
吸入器	xī rù qì	inhaler
二级头呼吸器	èr jí tóu hū xī qì	(scuba diving) regulator; demand valve
血吸虫病	xuè xī chóng bìng	schistosomiasis
备用二级头呼吸器	bèi yòng èr jí tóu hū xī qì	(scuba diving) backup regulator; octopus
同类相吸	tóng lèi xiāng xī	Like attracts like.
口吸盘	kǒu xī pán	oral sucker (e.g. on bloodsucking parasite)
吸铁石	xī tiě shí	magnet
倒吸一口凉气	dào xī yī kǒu liáng qì	to gasp (with amazement or shock etc); to feel a chill run down one's spine; to have one's…
吸水	xī shuǐ	absorbent
吸地	xī dì	to vacuum the floor
人工呼吸	rén gōng hū xī	artificial respiration (medicine)
吸烟区	xī yān qū	smoking area
吸金	xī jīn	money-spinning; moneymaking
呼吸调节器	hū xī tiáo jié qì	regulator (diving)
吸引眼球	xī yǐn yǎn qiú	to attract attention; to catch attention
吸气	xī qì	to inhale; to breathe in
吸力	xī lì	(physics) attractive force (gravitational, magnetic, electrostatic etc); suction; (fig.) a…

Characters sharing the sound component 及 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
及 sound part	jí	to extend; to reach; and; in time
级	jí	level, rank; class, grade
极	jí	extreme, top; final, furthest, utmost; pole
圾	jī	garbage, rubbish; shaking; danger
汲	jí	to draw water at a well; to imbibe
岌	jí	perilous, hazardous; steep, high
笈	jí	bamboo box used carry books
趿	tā	to tread on; slipshod
芨	jí	Chinese elder tree