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檄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
檄xíto order, to dispatch; urgency, a call to armszg, 17 strokes, radical 木
檄xídispatchunknown, 17 strokes, radical 木
檄xíorderunknown, 17 strokes, radical 木
xí(xi2) T2
  1. 1to order, to dispatch; urgency, a call to arms
  2. 2dispatch
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March 24, 2026

檄xí(xi2)

The character 檄 (xí) refers to an official document or order, often associated with urgency or a call to action. It is commonly used in historical contexts, particularly in military or governmental communications, where a dispatch or proclamation is necessary to mobilize support or inform others.

Strokes17Radical木
Cultural Note

In ancient China, 檄 was often used in military campaigns, where a general would issue a 檄 to rally troops or inform distant commanders. This reflects the importance of written communication in maintaining order and urgency in historical Chinese warfare.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, bold scroll being unfurled in a hurry, with the word 'urgent' written in big letters. The character 檄 can be visualized as a tree (木) combined with a symbol for writing (亥), suggesting the idea of a written order emerging from a place of authority.

Meanings of 檄

xí(xi2)
1to order, to dispatch; urgency, a call to arms
2dispatch
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 檄

檄Simplified
17Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 檄

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Podcast: 檄

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AI Study Notes for 檄

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 檄 (xí) with similar sounding words or characters. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include military orders or official dispatches; avoid using it in casual settings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 檄 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to higher-level vocabulary related to governance and communication. Focus on understanding its historical context and applications in classical literature to enhance your comprehension of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 檄 in informal contexts, treating it like a casual message. An example of a wrong usage is saying '我发一个檄给你' (I’ll send you a dispatch), which sounds overly formal; instead, use '我发个消息给你' (I’ll send you a message).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 檄

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Etymology of 檄

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Case file: 檄

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

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Decomposition of 檄

IDS Structure⿰木敫
檄Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
敫jiao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 檄?

How to say to order, to dispatch; urgency, a call to arms in Chinese

“to order, to dispatch; urgency, a call to arms” in Chinese is檄xí

The character 檄 (xí) refers to an official document or order, often associated with urgency or a call to action. It is commonly used in historical contexts, particularly in military or governmental communications, where a dispatch or proclamation is necessary to mobilize support or inform others.

When to use 檄

Learners often confuse 檄 (xí) with similar sounding words or characters. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include military orders or official dispatches; avoid using it in casual settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 檄 in informal contexts, treating it like a casual message. An example of a wrong usage is saying '我发一个檄给你' (I’ll send you a dispatch), which sounds overly formal; instead, use '我发个消息给你' (I’ll send you a message).

Write 檄

檄

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

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Word Family of 檄

Words Containing This Character2
檄xíorder
传檄to promulgate傳檄
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 檄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 檄

While 檄 is not commonly used in everyday conversation today, it may appear in formal writings or historical texts.

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