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夔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夔kuíone-legged monster; walruszg, 21 strokes, radical 夊
夔kuíone-legged mountain demon of Chinese mythologyunknown, 21 strokes, radical 夊
夔kuíChinese mythical figure who invented music and dancingunknown, 21 strokes, radical 夊
夔kuíChinese rain godunknown, 21 strokes, radical 夊
夔kuísurname Kuiunknown, 21 strokes, radical 夊
kuí(Kui2)kui T2
  1. 1one-legged monster; walrus
  2. 2one-legged mountain demon of Chinese mythology
Also a Chinese surname, Kui — see the Surname Dictionary
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March 24, 2026

夔kuí(Kui2)

The character 夔 (kuí) refers to a mythical one-legged creature from Chinese folklore, often depicted as a demon associated with music and rain. It symbolizes creativity and artistic expression, particularly in music and dance, and is sometimes linked to the surname Kui. In literature, it can evoke themes of the supernatural and the natural world.

Strokes21Radical夊
Cultural note

In Chinese mythology, 夔 is celebrated as a god of music and rain, illustrating the importance of these elements in agrarian societies. Its portrayal in ancient texts highlights the cultural value placed on music as a divine art form.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant, one-legged creature (夔) dancing in a storm, its music calling the rain. The character looks like a person with a leg raised in a dance, and 'kuí' sounds like 'cue', as if the creature is cueing a performance.

Meanings of 夔

kuí(Kui2)
1one-legged monster; walrus
2one-legged mountain demon of Chinese mythology
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 夔

夔Simplified
21Strokes
夊Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 夔

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Podcast: 夔

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AI study notes for 夔

Usage Notes

While 夔 can be used in literary contexts, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its pronunciation; the fourth tone can be easily confused with other characters. It often appears in classical texts, so familiarity with context is important.

HSK Study Tips

Although 夔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of Chinese myths and enhance your vocabulary related to cultural themes. Focus on its association with music and folklore to connect with other characters in literature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夔 with other similar-sounding characters due to its unique pronunciation. For example, saying 'kuí' with the wrong tone may lead to misunderstandings with other characters like '回 (huí)'. Always practice the correct fourth tone to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夔

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Etymology of 夔

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A monster with a face, a nose 自, and one foot 夊

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 夔?

Decomposition of 夔

IDS Structure⿳?⿲止自巳夊
夔Full character
=
止zhi3
left
自zi4
middle
巳si4
right
夊sui1
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 夔?

How to say one-legged monster; walrus in Chinese

“one-legged monster; walrus” in Chinese is夔kuí

The character 夔 (kuí) refers to a mythical one-legged creature from Chinese folklore, often depicted as a demon associated with music and rain. It symbolizes creativity and artistic expression, particularly in music and dance, and is sometimes linked to the surname Kui. In literature, it can evoke themes of the supernatural and the natural world.

When to use 夔

While 夔 can be used in literary contexts, it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with its pronunciation; the fourth tone can be easily confused with other characters. It often appears in classical texts, so familiarity with context is important.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夔 with other similar-sounding characters due to its unique pronunciation. For example, saying 'kuí' with the wrong tone may lead to misunderstandings with other characters like '回 (huí)'. Always practice the correct fourth tone to avoid confusion.

Write 夔

夔

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

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Word Family of 夔

Words containing this character2
夔kuísurname Kui
夔州Kuizhou, ancient area of modern Fengjie County 奉節縣|奉节县[Fèng​jié​Xiàn], Chongqing
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 夔

What does 夔州 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 夔

夔 is significant as a representation of a powerful mythical creature that invented music and was associated with rain, reflecting the cultural link between art and nature.

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