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眭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
眭suīsurname Suiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 目
眭suīa piercing gaze; the evil eyenr, 11 strokes, radical 目
suī(Sui1) T1
  1. 1surname Sui
  2. 2a piercing gaze; the evil eye
Also a Chinese surname, Sui — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

眭suī(Sui1)

The character 眭 (suī) refers to a piercing or intense gaze, often associated with the concept of the 'evil eye.' It can also be used as a surname in Chinese culture. This term is typically used in literary contexts or discussions about superstitions and cultural beliefs surrounding the effects of one’s gaze.

Strokes11Radical目
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of the 'evil eye' is prevalent, where a person's gaze can supposedly bring misfortune or harm. This belief ties into broader themes of protection against negative influences, often reflected in art and literature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sharp-eyed hawk (眭) watching you with a piercing gaze. The left component (目) represents an eye, while the right part suggests sharpness or intensity. Picture the hawk swooping down, representing the idea of the 'evil eye' that can harm through a mere look.

Meanings of 眭

suī(Sui1)
1a piercing gaze; the evil eye
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 眭

眭Simplified
11Strokes
目Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 眭

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Podcast: 眭

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AI Study Notes for 眭

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 眭, as it is less common in everyday conversation and may sound overly dramatic or literary. It is often used in phrases related to superstitions or folklore. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 眭 is not part of the HSK curriculum, understanding it can enhance your reading of classical texts or folklore. Focus on the radicals and the concept of vision, which connects to other eye-related words like 眼 (yǎn) meaning 'eye.'

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 眭 with 眼 (yǎn), which simply means 'eye.' Ensure you remember that 眭 has a specific connotation of intensity or an 'evil eye.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 眭

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Etymology of 眭

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

eye

Semantic (meaning)目
+
Phonetic (sound)圭
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 眭

  1. 1The meaning half目 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half圭 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayeye
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 眭? 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 眭?

Decomposition of 眭

IDS Structure⿰目圭
眭Full Character
=
目mu4
left
圭gui1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 眭?

How to say surname Sui in Chinese

“surname Sui” in Chinese is眭suī

The character 眭 (suī) refers to a piercing or intense gaze, often associated with the concept of the 'evil eye.' It can also be used as a surname in Chinese culture. This term is typically used in literary contexts or discussions about superstitions and cultural beliefs surrounding the effects of one’s gaze.

When to use 眭

Be cautious when using 眭, as it is less common in everyday conversation and may sound overly dramatic or literary. It is often used in phrases related to superstitions or folklore. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 眭 with 眼 (yǎn), which simply means 'eye.' Ensure you remember that 眭 has a specific connotation of intensity or an 'evil eye.'

Write 眭

眭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 眭

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While the idea of an 'evil eye' exists in many cultures, in Western contexts, it is often associated with talismans or amulets, whereas in Chinese culture, it is more about the power of one's gaze and the associated superstitions.

Word Family of 眭

Words Containing This Character1
眭suīsurname Sui
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 眭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 眭

It means a piercing gaze or the evil eye, and it can also be a surname.

Jason Recommends

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