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彘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
彘zhìswineg, 12 strokes, radical 彑
zhì(zhi4)zhi T4
  1. 1swine
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March 24, 2026

彘zhì(zhi4)

The character 彘 (zhì) refers specifically to swine or pigs, often in a more literary or formal context. It is less commonly used in everyday conversation, where more colloquial terms for pig are preferred. The character conveys not only the animal itself but can also imply characteristics associated with pigs, such as gluttony or dirtiness.

Strokes12Radical彑
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, pigs have symbolic significance and are associated with prosperity and abundance, especially in the context of the Lunar New Year. The character 彘 reflects this cultural relationship with swine.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pig (彘) lounging in the mud, with its round body resembling the character's strokes. The left side, 彡, can remind you of the pig's curly tail, while the right side, 𠂇, looks like a snout. Think of saying 'zhì' with a playful grunt like a pig to remember the pronunciation.

Meanings of 彘

zhì(zhi4)
1swine
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 彘 means.

About 彘

彘Simplified
12Strokes
彑Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 彘

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Podcast: 彘

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AI Study Notes for 彘

Usage Notes

彘 is a formal term and may not be understood in casual conversations where '猪' (zhū) is more common. When using it, be mindful of the context, as it can carry a negative connotation when describing someone's character. Avoid using it in informal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 彘 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it may appear in literary texts or discussions about agriculture. Students at this level should focus on more frequently used words related to animals, such as '狗' (gǒu - dog) and '猫' (māo - cat), to build a foundational vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 彘 with 猪 (zhū), mistakenly using 彘 in casual settings. For example, saying '我有两只彘' instead of '我有两只猪' is incorrect. Stick to 猪 for everyday use.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 彘

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Etymology of 彘

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

snout

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

Origin

彘 = 彑 + 矢. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 彘

IDS Structure⿱彑⿻比矢
彘Full Character
=
彑ji4
top
比Bi3
outer
矢shi3
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 彘?

How to say swine in Chinese

“swine” in Chinese is彘zhì

The character 彘 (zhì) refers specifically to swine or pigs, often in a more literary or formal context. It is less commonly used in everyday conversation, where more colloquial terms for pig are preferred. The character conveys not only the animal itself but can also imply characteristics associated with pigs, such as gluttony or dirtiness.

When to use 彘

彘 is a formal term and may not be understood in casual conversations where '猪' (zhū) is more common. When using it, be mindful of the context, as it can carry a negative connotation when describing someone's character. Avoid using it in informal settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 彘 with 猪 (zhū), mistakenly using 彘 in casual settings. For example, saying '我有两只彘' instead of '我有两只猪' is incorrect. Stick to 猪 for everyday use.

Write 彘

彘

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

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Word Family of 彘

Words Containing This Character1
彘zhìswine

Frequently Asked Questions about 彘

No, 彘 is more formal and literary; most people use '猪' (zhū) instead.

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