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僖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
僖xījoy, gladness, delight; surnamenrt, 14 strokes, radical 亻
僖xīmerryunknown, 14 strokes, radical 亻
僖xījoyfulunknown, 14 strokes, radical 亻
僖xīsurname Xiunknown, 14 strokes, radical 亻
xī(Xi1) T1
  1. 1joy, gladness, delight; surname
  2. 2merry
Also a Chinese surname, Xi — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

僖xī(Xi1)

The character 僖 (xī) conveys a sense of joy, gladness, or delight. It is often used in literary or formal contexts to express happiness or merriment. Additionally, it can serve as a surname, particularly the surname Xi.

Strokes14Radical亻
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese contexts, joy and celebration often play significant roles in festivals and family gatherings, where expressions of delight are culturally valued. 僖 embodies this spirit of happiness.

Memory Tip

Think of 僖 as a person (the radical 亻 indicates this) who is so joyful that they are literally 'radiating happiness.' Imagine this person with a big smile, spreading joy wherever they go, and the sound 'xī' is like a cheerful exclamation of delight.

Meanings of 僖

xī(Xi1)
1joy, gladness, delight; surname
2merry
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 僖

僖Simplified
14Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 僖

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Podcast: 僖

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 僖

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 僖 in informal contexts, as it tends to have a more formal or literary feel. Common collocations include phrases like '快乐的僖' (joyful delight). Ensure proper tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing 'xī' could lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

While this character is not included in the HSK levels, it may be useful for learners at HSK 4 and above who are expanding their vocabulary with less common characters. Focus on recognizing its form and understanding its emotional connotation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 僖 with similar-sounding characters, like 西 (xī, west) or 席 (xí, mat). Make sure to remember that 僖 specifically relates to joy and gladness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 僖

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Etymology of 僖

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Someone 亻 in love 喜; 喜 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 僖

  1. 1The giveawaySomeone 亻 in love 喜; 喜 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 僖? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 僖?

Decomposition of 僖

IDS Structure⿰亻喜
僖Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
喜xi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 僖?

How to say joy, gladness, delight; surname in Chinese

“joy, gladness, delight; surname” in Chinese is僖xī

The character 僖 (xī) conveys a sense of joy, gladness, or delight. It is often used in literary or formal contexts to express happiness or merriment. Additionally, it can serve as a surname, particularly the surname Xi.

When to use 僖

Be cautious of using 僖 in informal contexts, as it tends to have a more formal or literary feel. Common collocations include phrases like '快乐的僖' (joyful delight). Ensure proper tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing 'xī' could lead to misunderstanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 僖 with similar-sounding characters, like 西 (xī, west) or 席 (xí, mat). Make sure to remember that 僖 specifically relates to joy and gladness.

Write 僖

僖

Practice writing 僖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 僖

Words Containing This Character2
僖xīmerry
唐僖宗Emperor Xizong of Tang, reign name of nineteenth Tang Emperor Li Xuan 李儇[Lǐ​Xuān] (862-888), reigned 873-888
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 僖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 僖

It's not commonly used in everyday conversation, but it can express joy or gladness in more literary contexts.

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