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刖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
刖yuècutting off the feet as a form of punishmentg, 6 strokes, radical 刂
刖yuèto amputate one or both feet (punishment in imperial China)unknown, 6 strokes, radical 刂
yuè(yue4)yue T4
  1. 1cutting off the feet as a form of punishment
  2. 2to amputate one or both feet (punishment in imperial China)
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March 24, 2026

刖yuè(yue4)

The character 刖 (yuè) refers to a historical form of punishment in ancient China, specifically the act of amputating one or both feet. This severe penalty was part of the five punishments (五刑) used during imperial times and symbolizes extreme retribution for serious crimes. Its usage is largely historical and reflects the harsh penal system of that era.

Strokes6Radical刂
Cultural Note

In Chinese history, 刖 represents the severity of law enforcement in imperial times, where physical punishment was common. This character is a stark reminder of the strictness of ancient Chinese legal codes and their implications for societal order.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'yeti' (sounds like 'yuè') that lives in a snowy mountain, where he must cut off his own feet to survive in the cold. The character 刖 features the radical '刀' (knife) suggesting cutting, and the bottom part resembles feet being removed, reinforcing the meaning of amputation.

Meanings of 刖

yuè(yue4)
1cutting off the feet as a form of punishment
2to amputate one or both feet (punishment in imperial China)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 刖

刖Simplified
6Strokes
刂Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 刖

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Podcast: 刖

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AI Study Notes for 刖

Usage Notes

This term is highly formal and historical, rarely used in modern conversation. It is often found in literature or discussions about ancient punishments. Be careful with the tone; the fourth tone is critical as it changes the meaning significantly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 刖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners interested in historical contexts or legal terminology. Focus on its radical components and how they relate to other characters involving punishment or bodily actions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 刖 with similar characters like 刃 (blade) or 切 (to cut). For example, saying '我想要切脚' (I want to cut feet) instead of using 刖 is incorrect. Always use 刖 when referring to the historical act of amputation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 刖

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Etymology of 刖

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

knife

Semantic (meaning)刂
+
Phonetic (sound)月
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

刖 = 刂 + 月. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 刖

IDS Structure⿰月刂
刖Full Character
=
月yue4
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 刖?

How to say cutting off the feet as a form of punishment in Chinese

“cutting off the feet as a form of punishment” in Chinese is刖yuè

The character 刖 (yuè) refers to a historical form of punishment in ancient China, specifically the act of amputating one or both feet. This severe penalty was part of the five punishments (五刑) used during imperial times and symbolizes extreme retribution for serious crimes. Its usage is largely historical and reflects the harsh penal system of that era.

When to use 刖

This term is highly formal and historical, rarely used in modern conversation. It is often found in literature or discussions about ancient punishments. Be careful with the tone; the fourth tone is critical as it changes the meaning significantly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 刖 with similar characters like 刃 (blade) or 切 (to cut). For example, saying '我想要切脚' (I want to cut feet) instead of using 刖 is incorrect. Always use 刖 when referring to the historical act of amputation.

Write 刖

刖

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

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Word Family of 刖

Words Containing This Character1
刖yuèsee also 五刑[wǔ​xíng]

Frequently Asked Questions about 刖

No, it is largely considered a historical term and is rarely used in contemporary language.

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