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March 24, 2026
葸xǐ(xi3)
The character 葸 (xǐ) conveys feelings of fear, bashfulness, and insecurity. It is often used to describe a state of being unhappy or feeling uneasy in social situations, reflecting an emotional vulnerability. This word is less common in everyday language but can appear in literary or poetic contexts to express deep feelings.
Strokes12Radical艹Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing feelings of insecurity or bashfulness can be more common in interpersonal communication, reflecting a value on humility and modesty. This character can evoke the idea of 'saving face' in social contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shy person hiding behind a leafy plant (the radical 葉, which means leaf) because they are afraid to face the world. The character's form suggests someone who is bashful, hiding among leaves, and the 'xǐ' sounds like 'sheepish,' which also conveys a sense of shyness.
Meanings of 葸
xǐ(xi3)
1afraid, bashful, insecure
2feel insecure
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 葸
葸Simplified
12Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 葸
Podcast: 葸
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AI Study Notes for 葸
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shy person hiding behind a leafy plant (the radical 葉, which means leaf) because they are afraid to face the world. The character's form suggests someone who is bashful, hiding among leaves, and the 'xǐ' sounds like 'sheepish,' which also conveys a sense of shyness.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 葸 is not commonly used in daily conversation, making it more suitable for written or formal contexts. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words related to fear or shyness, so it’s important to pay attention to context and tone when using it.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not included in the HSK levels, learners should focus on its emotional connotations. It relates to other words describing feelings and emotions, providing a deeper understanding of expressing vulnerability in Chinese.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing feelings of insecurity or bashfulness can be more common in interpersonal communication, reflecting a value on humility and modesty. This character can evoke the idea of 'saving face' in social contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 葸 with the more common word 害怕 (hàipà), which means 'to be afraid.' For example, saying '我葸' instead of '我害怕' (I am afraid) can lead to misunderstanding, as 葸 suggests a different emotional state.
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Pronunciation of 葸
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Cultural Notes for 葸
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing feelings of insecurity or bashfulness can be more common in interpersonal communication, reflecting a value on humility and modesty. This character can evoke the idea of 'saving face' in social contexts.
Word Family of 葸
Words Containing This Character1
葸xǐunhappy
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 葸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 葸
No, 葸 is more often found in literary texts or poetry, rather than in everyday speech.
You might say, '他在聚会上感到葸,' which means 'He felt insecure at the gathering.'
Synonyms include 害怕 (hàipà) for fear and 羞愧 (xiūkuì) for shyness.
