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犧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
犧xīto sacrifice, to give up, to die for a causex, 20 strokes, radical 牛
xī(xi1)xi T1
  1. 1to sacrifice, to give up, to die for a cause
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March 24, 2026

犧xī(xi1)

The character 犧 (xī) means to sacrifice or to give up something valuable, often for a cause or for others. It is commonly used in contexts discussing selflessness or martyrdom, emphasizing the act of giving one's life or resources for a greater good.

Strokes20Radical牛
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of sacrifice is often revered, particularly in relation to historical figures or martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation. This aligns with the Confucian value of selflessness and duty to family and society.

Memory tip

Imagine a sheep (犭 is a radical related to animals) that willingly steps forward to sacrifice itself for the sake of its flock. The pronunciation 'xī' sounds like 'sheep', which helps you remember the character's meaning related to sacrifice.

Meanings of 犧

xī(xi1)
1to sacrifice, to give up, to die for a cause
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 犧

犧Simplified
20Strokes
牛Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 犧

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AI Study Notes for 犧

Quick Contrast

犧 (sacrifice) vs 讓 (ràng, yield) — choose 犧 for a connotation of selfless giving, while 讓 emphasizes allowing or permitting.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 犧 as it often carries a heavy emotional weight; it is more suitable for formal discussions about sacrifice or loss. Common collocations include 犧牲 (xīshēng - to sacrifice) and 犧牲品 (xīshēngpǐn - sacrificial victim). Avoid using it in light-hearted contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 犧 is not included in standard HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to emotions and actions, such as 牺牲 (xīshēng). Focus on understanding the emotional implications and how it’s used in literature and speeches.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 犧 with similar-sounding characters like 西 (xī - west), leading to incorrect meanings. Remember that 犧 specifically relates to the concept of sacrifice, not direction.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 犧

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Etymology of 犧

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 西 represents the sound. Simplified form of 犧.

Memory hint

ox

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

Origin

犧 = 牛 + 羲. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 犧

IDS Structure⿰牛羲
犧Full character
=
牛Niu2
left
羲Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 犧?

How to say to sacrifice, to give up, to die for a cause in Chinese

“to sacrifice, to give up, to die for a cause” in Chinese is犧xī

The character 犧 (xī) means to sacrifice or to give up something valuable, often for a cause or for others. It is commonly used in contexts discussing selflessness or martyrdom, emphasizing the act of giving one's life or resources for a greater good.

When to use 犧

Be cautious when using 犧 as it often carries a heavy emotional weight; it is more suitable for formal discussions about sacrifice or loss. Common collocations include 犧牲 (xīshēng - to sacrifice) and 犧牲品 (xīshēngpǐn - sacrificial victim). Avoid using it in light-hearted contexts.

犧 or something close to it

犧 (sacrifice) vs 讓 (ràng, yield) — choose 犧 for a connotation of selfless giving, while 讓 emphasizes allowing or permitting.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 犧 with similar-sounding characters like 西 (xī - west), leading to incorrect meanings. Remember that 犧 specifically relates to the concept of sacrifice, not direction.

Write 犧

犧

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

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Word Family of 犧

Words containing this character6
牺牲xīshēngto sacrifice one's life犧牲
牺牲品sacrificial victim犧牲品
牺牲者sacrificial victim犧牲者
英勇牺牲to heroically sacrifice one's life英勇犧牲
牺xīsacrifice犧
庖牺氏another name for 伏羲[Fú​Xī], consort of 女媧|女娲[Nǚ​wā]庖犧氏
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 犧

What does 牺牲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 犧

In modern usage, 犧 emphasizes personal sacrifices made for others, often in social or political movements.

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