How do you say "starting line" in Chinese?

起跑线

qǐ pǎo xiàn

Phrase Hanzi

In Chinese, "starting line" is 起跑线 (qǐ pǎo xiàn).

Listen to the pronunciation:

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Pronunciation

Aim to hit qǐ pǎo xiàn using "qǐ" dipped low then curled back up (third tone), then "pǎo" dipped low then curled back up (third tone), then "xiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).

Writing and usage

起跑线 is written using hanzi. It's a phrase, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

starting line

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How to remember 起跑线

Whisper "qǐ pǎo xiàn" to yourself while picturing starting line; the sound and the image will fuse after a few tries.

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 起跑线

How do you pronounce 起跑线?

Aim to hit qǐ pǎo xiàn using "qǐ" dipped low then curled back up (third tone), then "pǎo" dipped low then curled back up (third tone), then "xiàn" snapped down sharply (fourth tone).

Is 起跑线 formal or casual?

起跑线 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 起跑线 used in Chinese?

起跑线 is used the same way as the equivalent English phrase. For example: (starting line).

Where can I practice Chinese words for free?

You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Starting line" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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