After years of debate, the mystery behind one of Stardew Valley’s most enigmatic characters has finally been solved—how do you pronounce Mr. Qi’s name?
During a recent appearance on the TigerBelly podcast, Stardew Valley developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone was asked by host Bobby Lee about the character. Lee, like many fans, stumbled over the name and asked directly: “How do you pronounce Mr. Qi?”
Barone revealed that the name is officially pronounced “Kwee.” He admitted that this is the first time he’s publicly confirmed the pronunciation. Despite years of fan theories guessing everything from “Chee” to “Ki” or just the letter “Q,” it turns out everyone was a little off.
“It’s actually ‘Kwee,’” Barone said, adding with a laugh, “But I don’t really care how people pronounce it—it’s however you want to say it.”
👁️ The Mystery of Mr. Qi
Mr. Qi is one of Stardew Valley’s most mysterious NPCs. Players can’t build a relationship with him, yet he seems to know nearly everything about their activities. Found deep in the Skull Cavern and later in Qi’s Walnut Room on Ginger Island, he issues bizarre, often difficult quests that feel like trials from a higher power.
His cryptic nature has fueled community speculation for years—not just about his origin, but even about the basics, like how to say his name. Barone’s clarification brings at least one small part of the mystery to rest.
🔍 Why It Matters
Pronunciation may seem minor, but for long-time fans and content creators, it’s a big deal. Mr. Qi plays a key role in endgame content, and with Barone confirming that it’s “Kwee,” fans now have a definitive reference—straight from the source.
🎧 Where to Hear It
You can listen to the full conversation in the TigerBelly podcast episode on YouTube here, where Barone opens up about game development, community reactions, and more.
ConcernedApe clarifies how he pronounces Mr. Qi, but “honestly doesn’t care if people say it other ways”!
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