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馐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
馐xiūfood, meal; to eat; to offerg, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #53266, Very Hard
馐xiūdelicaciesunknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #53266, Very Hard
xiū(xiu1)xiu T1
  1. 1food, meal; to eat; to offer
  2. 2delicacies
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March 24, 2026

馐(饈)xiū(xiu1)

The character 馐 (xiū) refers to food or delicacies, often used in a formal or literary context. It can denote a meal or offerings made during rituals or ceremonies, emphasizing the quality and presentation of the food. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary works or historical texts.

Strokes13Radical饣Frequency#53266DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the presentation of food is highly valued, especially during festivals and family gatherings. The character 馐 embodies this cultural appreciation for not just the taste, but also the aesthetic appeal of meals.

Memory tip

Think of 馐 (xiū) as a 'show' of food. The top part resembles a plate (the roof), while the bottom part suggests something fine and delicate, like a gourmet meal. Imagine a dining experience where food is presented beautifully, making it memorable and enjoyable.

Meanings of 馐

xiū(xiu1)
1food, meal; to eat; to offer
2delicacies
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 馐

馐Simplified
饈Traditional
13Strokes
饣Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 馐

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Podcast: 馐

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AI study notes for 馐

Usage Notes

When using 馐, it is important to recognize its formal tone, which may not fit casual conversations about food. Common mistakes include confusing it with more colloquial terms for food, like 食 (shí). Always be aware of the context in which you use this word, as it implies a sense of delicacy and care.

HSK Study Tips

As 馐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on associating it with related food terms, such as 食 (shí) for 'to eat' and 美食 (měishí) for 'delicious food.' Understanding how to use this character in literary contexts can enhance your reading skills at higher levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 馐 with 食 (shí) due to their related meanings. For instance, saying '我想吃馐' (I want to eat 馐) is incorrect; use '食' instead for casual contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 馐

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Etymology of 馐

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

food

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

Origin

馐 = 饣 + 羞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 馐

IDS Structure⿰饣羞
馐Full character
=
饣shi2
left
羞xiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 馐?

How to say food, meal; to eat; to offer in Chinese

“food, meal; to eat; to offer” in Chinese is馐xiū

The character 馐 (xiū) refers to food or delicacies, often used in a formal or literary context. It can denote a meal or offerings made during rituals or ceremonies, emphasizing the quality and presentation of the food. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant in literary works or historical texts.

When to use 馐

When using 馐, it is important to recognize its formal tone, which may not fit casual conversations about food. Common mistakes include confusing it with more colloquial terms for food, like 食 (shí). Always be aware of the context in which you use this word, as it implies a sense of delicacy and care.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 馐 with 食 (shí) due to their related meanings. For instance, saying '我想吃馐' (I want to eat 馐) is incorrect; use '食' instead for casual contexts.

Write 馐

馐

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

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Grammar patterns of 馐

馐 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

熏大马哈鱼——____馔之福啊!

Smoked salmon — what a treat!

Example sentences for 馐 (1)

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1
熏大马哈鱼——馐馔之福啊!

xūn dà mǎ Hā yú—— xiū zhuàn zhī fú a!

Smoked salmon — what a treat!

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Word Family of 馐

Words containing this character3
馐xiūdelicacies饈
珍馐delicacy珍饈
珍馐美味delicacy and fine taste (idiom); a wonderful treat珍饈美味
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 馐

What does 珍馐 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 馐

No, 馐 is more commonly found in literary contexts and is not typically used in everyday speech.

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