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曦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
sunshine; early dawnnr, 20 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
light of dayunknown, 20 strokes, radical 日, Very Hard
(xi1) T1
  1. 1sunshine; early dawn
  2. 2light of day
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March 24, 2026

(xi1)

曦 (xī) refers to the gentle light of the early morning sun, often associated with warmth and the start of a new day. It conveys a sense of brightness and hope, commonly used in poetic contexts to describe the beauty of dawn.

Strokes20RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, 曦 is often used to evoke feelings of tranquility and renewal associated with the dawn, reflecting the cultural appreciation for nature's beauty and the symbolism of beginnings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sunny morning where the first rays of light (曦) gently illuminate the world. The character features the sun (日) on top, symbolizing light, and a series of strokes that resemble the gentle flow of morning light spreading across the sky.

Meanings of 曦

(xi1)
1sunshine; early dawn
2light of day
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 曦

Simplified
20Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 曦

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 曦

Quick Contrast

曙 (shǔ) - use 曦 for the gentle morning light, while 曙 refers specifically to the dawn or first light, emphasizing the moment rather than the warmth.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sunny morning where the first rays of light (曦) gently illuminate the world. The character features the sun (日) on top, symbolizing light, and a series of strokes that resemble the gentle flow of morning light spreading across the sky.

Usage Notes

曦 is more commonly used in literary or poetic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Learners may confuse it with related terms like '阳光' (yángguāng) for sunlight, which is more general. Pay attention to its softer connotation compared to brighter terms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 曦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other nature-related words such as 日 (rì - sun) and 光 (guāng - light). Focus on how these terms can be combined to enrich descriptions of natural phenomena.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, 曦 is often used to evoke feelings of tranquility and renewal associated with the dawn, reflecting the cultural appreciation for nature's beauty and the symbolism of beginnings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 曦 with other light-related characters like 明 (míng - bright), which has a more general meaning. Remember that 曦 specifically refers to the light of dawn, not just any light.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 曦

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Etymology of 曦

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

sun

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 曦?

Decomposition of 曦

IDS Structure⿰日羲
Full Character
=
Ri4
left
Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 曦?

Write 曦

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

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Grammar Patterns of 曦

曦 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

树叶在秋日的晨____中泛出红黄色的光。

The fall foliage glowed red and yellow in the morning sunlight.

Example Sentences for 曦 (1)

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1
树叶在秋日的晨曦中泛出红黄色的光。

shù yè zài qiū rì de chén xī zhōng fàn chū hóng huáng sè de guāng。

The fall foliage glowed red and yellow in the morning sunlight.

Cultural Notes for 曦

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese poetry, 曦 is often used to evoke feelings of tranquility and renewal associated with the dawn, reflecting the cultural appreciation for nature's beauty and the symbolism of beginnings.

Word Family of 曦

Words Containing This Character2
晨曦first rays of morning sun
light of day
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 晨曦 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 曦

It is pronounced as 'xī', with a high-level tone.