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毳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
毳cuìfine hair or fur on animalsg, 12 strokes, radical 毛
毳cuìcrispunknown, 12 strokes, radical 毛
毳cuìbrittleunknown, 12 strokes, radical 毛
毳cuìfine animal hairunknown, 12 strokes, radical 毛
cuì(cui4) T4
  1. 1fine hair or fur on animals
  2. 2crisp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

毳cuì(cui4)

The character 毳 (cuì) refers to the fine hair or fur found on animals, often associated with softness and delicacy. It can also describe something that is crisp or brittle in texture. This term is commonly used in contexts related to animal pelts or certain fabrics that have a soft, fine quality.

Strokes12Radical毛
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the quality of animal fur is often associated with wealth and status. Fine fur items were historically prized and used in clothing and decoration, reflecting one's social standing.

Memory Tip

Picture a tiny animal, like a rabbit, with very soft and delicate fur. The character 毳 has a similar look to a rabbit's fur in the way it appears light and fluffy, and you can remember 'cuì' by thinking of 'cute' and 'delicate'—like the fine hair on a small animal.

Meanings of 毳

cuì(cui4)
1fine hair or fur on animals
2crisp
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 毳

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

Podcast: 毳

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Podcast: 毳

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AI Study Notes for 毳

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 毳 with other similar characters that refer to hair, as it specifically denotes fine hair or fur. It is more often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register. Common collocations include 毳毛 (fine fur) and 毳绒 (soft fluff).

HSK Study Tips

While 毳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can enhance your understanding of descriptive adjectives related to texture. Focus on recognizing this character in written texts that discuss animals or fabrics to build your vocabulary related to this theme.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 毳 by substituting it with 毛 (máo), which refers to hair in a general sense. For example, saying '这件衣服是用毛做的' (This piece of clothing is made from hair) can imply a coarser texture, while 毳 specifies fine fur.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 毳

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Etymology of 毳

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Many fine hairs 毛 forming a pelt

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 毳

  1. 1The giveawayMany fine hairs 毛 forming a pelt
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 毳? 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 毳?

Decomposition of 毳

IDS Structure⿱毛⿰毛毛
毳Full Character
=
毛Mao2
top
毛Mao2
left
毛Mao2
right
Exercise 1 of 1

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 毳?

How to say fine hair or fur on animals in Chinese

“fine hair or fur on animals” in Chinese is毳cuì

The character 毳 (cuì) refers to the fine hair or fur found on animals, often associated with softness and delicacy. It can also describe something that is crisp or brittle in texture. This term is commonly used in contexts related to animal pelts or certain fabrics that have a soft, fine quality.

When to use 毳

Be cautious not to confuse 毳 with other similar characters that refer to hair, as it specifically denotes fine hair or fur. It is more often used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation, so be mindful of the register. Common collocations include 毳毛 (fine fur) and 毳绒 (soft fluff).

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 毳 by substituting it with 毛 (máo), which refers to hair in a general sense. For example, saying '这件衣服是用毛做的' (This piece of clothing is made from hair) can imply a coarser texture, while 毳 specifies fine fur.

Write 毳

毳

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

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Word Family of 毳

Words Containing This Character1
毳cuìcrisp
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 毳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 毳

You can use 毳 in a sentence like '这件衣服是用毳毛做的' (This piece of clothing is made from fine fur).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 毳?

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.