Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
觱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
Tartar horn; chill windx, 16 strokes, radical 角, Very Hard
feverunknown, 16 strokes, radical 角, Very Hard
(bi4) T4
  1. 1Tartar horn; chill wind
  2. 2fever
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(bi4)

The character 觱 (bì) refers to a 'tartar horn', a type of wind instrument used historically. In a broader context, it can also describe a 'chill wind' or relate to a 'fever', reflecting a sense of discomfort or harshness. This word is not commonly used in everyday conversation and may appear primarily in literary or historical texts.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese music, instruments like the tartar horn represent ancient cultural practices and rituals. This character connects to historical music contexts, which may evoke imagery of ancient ceremonies or gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chilly wind blowing through a tartar horn, creating a haunting sound that sends shivers down your spine. The character 觱 has the radical 角 (horn) which visually connects to its meaning, while the pronunciation 'bì' may remind you of the sound of a horn being blown.

Meanings of 觱

(bi4)
1Tartar horn; chill wind
2fever
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 觱

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 觱

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 觱

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a chilly wind blowing through a tartar horn, creating a haunting sound that sends shivers down your spine. The character 觱 has the radical 角 (horn) which visually connects to its meaning, while the pronunciation 'bì' may remind you of the sound of a horn being blown.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in modern Mandarin and may sound archaic to native speakers. Be cautious with its usage, as it may not be recognized in informal contexts. It is important to understand that while it can denote a chill or discomfort, using it in common conversation may confuse listeners.

HSK Study Tips

As 觱 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners may encounter it in advanced reading materials. Focus on recognizing the character and its components, as it can serve as an example of how certain characters can have multiple meanings based on context.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese music, instruments like the tartar horn represent ancient cultural practices and rituals. This character connects to historical music contexts, which may evoke imagery of ancient ceremonies or gatherings.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 觱 with similar-sounding words, leading to incorrect meanings. For example, mixing it up with 逼 (bī), which means 'to force', can lead to misunderstandings in conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 觱

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 觱

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

horn

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 觱?

Decomposition of 觱

IDS Structure⿱咸角
Full Character
=
Xian2
top
jiao3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 觱?

Write 觱

Practice writing 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 觱

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese music, instruments like the tartar horn represent ancient cultural practices and rituals. This character connects to historical music contexts, which may evoke imagery of ancient ceremonies or gatherings.

Word Family of 觱

Words Containing This Character1
fever
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 觱 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 觱

No, 觱 is relatively rare and primarily found in historical or literary contexts.