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彘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
彘zhìswineg, 12 strokes, radical 彑
zhì(zhi4) T4
  1. 1swine
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 彘

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

Podcast: 彘

JasonAmy

Podcast: 彘

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 彘

  1. 1The meaning half彑 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half矢 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaysnout
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 彘? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 彘?

Decomposition of 彘

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 彘

Words Containing This Character1
彘zhìswine
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 彘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 彘

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 彘?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.