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囟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
囟xìntop of the head; skulln, 6 strokes, radical 囗, rank #54386, Very Hard
囟xìnfontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)unknown, 6 strokes, radical 囗, rank #54386, Very Hard
xìn(xin4) T4
  1. 1top of the head; skull
  2. 2fontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)
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March 24, 2026

囟xìn(xin4)

The character 囟 (xìn) refers to the top of the head or the skull, specifically highlighting the fontanel, which is the soft spot in an infant's skull before the bones fuse. It is commonly used in medical contexts when discussing infant anatomy or in traditional Chinese medicine. Understanding this term is essential for health discussions related to babies and their development.

Strokes6Radical囗Frequency#54386DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the condition of an infant's fontanel is believed to reflect their health, making this term significant in both medical and cultural contexts regarding child care.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 囟 as a protective dome (the enclosing shape of the character) over the soft brain inside (the skull). Picture a baby's head with a soft spot at the top, which represents the character, helping you remember that 'xìn' relates to the head.

Meanings of 囟

xìn(xin4)
1top of the head; skull
2fontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 囟

囟Simplified
6Strokes
囗Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 囟

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Podcast: 囟

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AI Study Notes for 囟

Usage Notes

This term is more technical and is primarily used in medical or anatomical discussions, making it less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other terms for head or skull, like 头 (tóu) or 骨 (gǔ). Remember that the pronunciation 'xìn' is in the fourth tone, which could be confused with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 囟 is not included in the official HSK levels, it relates to the broader vocabulary of anatomy that students might encounter. Focus on related words for body parts and medical terminology to build a comprehensive understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 囟 with 头 (tóu), which means 'head' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我有个囟痛' (wǒ yǒu gè xìn tòng) instead of '我头痛' (wǒ tóu tòng) is incorrect, as the latter is the appropriate term for a headache.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 囟

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Etymology of 囟

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

Pictograph of the top part of the skull.

Memory Hint

A skull from above, with 乂 marking the fontanelle

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 囟

Pictograph of the top part of the skull.

  1. 1The giveawayA skull from above, with 乂 marking the fontanelle
  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 囟? 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 囟?

Decomposition of 囟

IDS Structure⿱丿⿴囗乂
囟Full Character
=
丿pie3
top
囗wei2
enclosing
乂yi4
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 囟?

How to say top of the head; skull in Chinese

“top of the head; skull” in Chinese is囟xìn

The character 囟 (xìn) refers to the top of the head or the skull, specifically highlighting the fontanel, which is the soft spot in an infant's skull before the bones fuse. It is commonly used in medical contexts when discussing infant anatomy or in traditional Chinese medicine. Understanding this term is essential for health discussions related to babies and their development.

When to use 囟

This term is more technical and is primarily used in medical or anatomical discussions, making it less common in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with other terms for head or skull, like 头 (tóu) or 骨 (gǔ). Remember that the pronunciation 'xìn' is in the fourth tone, which could be confused with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 囟 with 头 (tóu), which means 'head' in a more general sense. For example, saying '我有个囟痛' (wǒ yǒu gè xìn tòng) instead of '我头痛' (wǒ tóu tòng) is incorrect, as the latter is the appropriate term for a headache.

Write 囟

囟

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

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Word Family of 囟

Words Containing This Character2
囟xìnfontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)
囟门fontanel (gap between the bones of an infant's skull)囟門
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 囟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 囟

A fontanel is the soft spot on a baby's head where the skull bones have not yet fused, allowing for growth and development of the brain.

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