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貅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xiūfierce; brave, courageousx, 13 strokes, radical 豸, Very Hard
xiū(xiu1) T1
  1. 1fierce; brave, courageous
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
xiū(xiu1)

The character 貅 (xiū) refers to a fierce and courageous nature, often associated with bravery. It is frequently used in the context of mythical creatures, particularly in connection with the composite mythical animal known as 貔貅 (píxiū), where 貅 is originally the female counterpart. This character embodies strength and valor.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 貅 is often associated with wealth and protection, as the mythological creature it represents is believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune. This significance makes it a popular symbol in Feng Shui.

Memory Tip

Think of 貅 as a fierce lioness ready to protect her pride. The left radical '贝' (which means treasure) suggests value, while the right side hints at a fierce creature, making it memorable as a brave guardian of treasures.

Meanings of 貅

xiū(xiu1)
1fierce; brave, courageous
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 貅

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 貅

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AI Study Notes for 貅

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 貅 as a fierce lioness ready to protect her pride. The left radical '贝' (which means treasure) suggests value, while the right side hints at a fierce creature, making it memorable as a brave guardian of treasures.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 貅 with its male counterpart 貔 (pí) due to their similar appearance and meanings. This term is more often used in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can alter the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 貅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with themes of courage and mythical creatures that appear in higher levels of study. Focus on recognizing the character's components and its relation to the more commonly used 貔 (pí) to deepen understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 貅 is often associated with wealth and protection, as the mythological creature it represents is believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune. This significance makes it a popular symbol in Feng Shui.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 貅 with 貔 due to their similar meanings and appearances. For example, saying '我喜欢貔的勇敢' (I like the bravery of the male version) when one might mean to refer to the female version, 貅, is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 貅

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Etymology of 貅

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

badger

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 貅?

Decomposition of 貅

IDS Structure⿰豸休
Full Character
=
zhi4
left
Xiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 貅?

Write 貅

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

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Cultural Notes for 貅

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, 貅 is often associated with wealth and protection, as the mythological creature it represents is believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune. This significance makes it a popular symbol in Feng Shui.

Word Family of 貅

Words Containing This Character2
貔貅also written 辟邪
xiūalso written 辟邪
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 貔貅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 貅

貅 refers to the female mythical creature while 貔 refers to the male version, which are both part of the same legendary animal family.