题
question; problem (on a test)
tí
What does 题 mean?
题 (tí) is the noun for a test question, exercise problem, or exam item — the kind of question you answer in school, on a quiz, or in a homework assignment. It is NOT used for general questions you ask someone in conversation; that's 问题 (wèntí). The distinction matters: '我有一个问题' means 'I have a question (to ask you)'; '这道题很难' means 'this test problem is hard.' 题 takes the unusual measure word 道 (dào): 一道题, 三道数学题. 题 also means 'topic' or 'theme' in compounds like 主题 (zhǔtí, theme), 标题 (biāotí, title/headline), and 话题 (huàtí, topic of conversation). Common phrases: 做题 (zuò tí, do exercises), 答题 (dá tí, answer questions), 考题 (kǎotí, exam questions).
Character breakdown
topic; question; problem; subject
Memory hook: The 页 component on the right is 'page' — 题 is what's written on the page of a test or book.
Measure word for 题
Example sentences
这道题我不会做。
Zhè dào tí wǒ bú huì zuò.
I don't know how to do this problem.
spoken
今天的考试有二十道题。
Jīntiān de kǎoshì yǒu èrshí dào tí.
Today's test has twenty questions.
neutral
老师，这道题怎么做？
Lǎoshī, zhè dào tí zěnme zuò?
Teacher, how do I do this problem?
spoken
他每天做很多数学题。
Tā měi tiān zuò hěn duō shùxué tí.
He does a lot of math problems every day.
neutral
这次考试题不太难。
Zhè cì kǎoshì tí bú tài nán.
This test's questions weren't too hard.
neutral
Common phrases with 题
Synonyms
问题 covers both 'question (to ask)' and 'problem (issue/trouble).' 题 is specifically a test/exercise question. 'I have a question for the teacher' = 我有问题问老师; 'this problem on the test is hard' = 这道题很难.
习题 means 'practice problem' — specifically exercises in a textbook or workbook. 题 is the general word; 习题 emphasizes the practice/drill purpose.
Don't confuse 题 with
问题 is a question you ASK or a PROBLEM that exists. 题 is a question on a TEST or in an exercise book. Don't say 老师，我有一个题 — say 我有一个问题.
提 is the verb 'to lift/raise/bring up' — same pinyin (tí), different character (扌 hand radical). 提问 (tíwèn) means 'to ask a question.' 题 is the noun for the question itself.
体 means 'body' — different tone (tǐ third tone vs tí second tone) and different meaning. Visually similar enough that beginners mix them up.