11th earthly branch: 7-9 p.m., 9th solar month (8th October-6th November), year of the Dog
unknown, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #75882, Very Hard
戌
xū
ancient Chinese compass point: 300°
unknown, 6 strokes, radical 戈, rank #75882, Very Hard
xū(xu1) T1
111th terrestrial branch
211th earthly branch: 7-9 p.m., 9th solar month (8th October-6th November), year of the Dog
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March 24, 2026
戌xū(xu1)
The character 戌 (xū) represents the 11th terrestrial branch in the Chinese zodiac, associated with the year of the Dog. It is also used to denote a specific time period from 7 to 9 p.m. and corresponds to the 9th month of the lunar calendar, generally falling between October 8 and November 6. This character is often encountered in discussions about astrology, timekeeping, and traditional Chinese culture.
Strokes6Radical戈Frequency#75882DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The year of the Dog, represented by 戌, is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with qualities such as loyalty and diligence, reflecting important cultural values in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a dog (which represents 戌) sitting at the intersection of a clock pointing to 7 p.m., where the hour hand is on 7 and the minute hand is on 12. The dog's loyalty and the specific time evoke the essence of the character, as the word '戌' sounds like 'shoo'—imagine shooing away your worries at this peaceful hour with your faithful dog by your side.
Meanings of 戌
xū(xu1)
111th terrestrial branch
211th earthly branch: 7-9 p.m., 9th solar month (8th October-6th November), year of the Dog
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 戌
戌Simplified
6Strokes
戈Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 戌
Podcast: 戌
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AI Study Notes for 戌
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a dog (which represents 戌) sitting at the intersection of a clock pointing to 7 p.m., where the hour hand is on 7 and the minute hand is on 12. The dog's loyalty and the specific time evoke the essence of the character, as the word '戌' sounds like 'shoo'—imagine shooing away your worries at this peaceful hour with your faithful dog by your side.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 戌 with similar-sounding characters like 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise.' This character is typically used in formal contexts, such as astrology or traditional calendars. Be mindful of its tone to avoid mispronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 戌 is not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding it helps connect to concepts in HSK Level 3 and 4, particularly those related to time and the zodiac. Focus on its usage in sentences relating to the Chinese calendar and zodiac signs.
Cultural Note
The year of the Dog, represented by 戌, is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with qualities such as loyalty and diligence, reflecting important cultural values in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 戌 with 亥 (hài), which represents the Year of the Pig. For example, saying '我属戌' (I belong to the Dog) when you meant to say '亥' can lead to confusion. Always double-check the character's association with the correct zodiac animal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 戌
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Cultural Notes for 戌
🏮Cultural insight
The year of the Dog, represented by 戌, is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and is associated with qualities such as loyalty and diligence, reflecting important cultural values in Chinese society.
Word Family of 戌
Words Containing This Character7
戌xūancient Chinese compass point: 300°
戊戌thirty-fifth year E11 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1958 or 2018
甲戌eleventh year A11 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1994 or 2054
庚戌forty-seventh year G11 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1970 or 2030
壬戌fifty-ninth year I11 of the 60 year cycle, e.g. 1982 or 2042
戊戌变法Hundred Days Reform (1898), failed attempt to reform the Qing dynasty戊戌變法
戌时7-9 pm戌時
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 戌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 戌
It represents the 11th terrestrial branch, the year of the Dog, and a specific time period from 7 to 9 p.m.
You can use it when discussing zodiac signs, for example, '今年是戌年' (This year is the Year of the Dog).
It's less common in daily conversation but frequently appears in contexts related to astrology and traditional calendars.
