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March 24, 2026
牺(犧)xī(xi1)
The character 牺 (xī) means 'to sacrifice' or 'to give up something valuable for a greater cause or purpose.' It is commonly used in contexts related to selflessness, such as martyrdom or making sacrifices for the benefit of others. The usage often carries a sense of nobility and purpose, especially in cultural or historical discussions.
Strokes10Radical牛Frequency#78410DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of sacrifice is deeply embedded in historical narratives, particularly in stories of heroes or martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for their country or people, reflecting the value placed on loyalty and selflessness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sheep (the radical 羊, which is part of 牺) standing bravely on a hill, ready to sacrifice itself for its flock. The image of the sheep helps connect the shape of the character with its meaning of sacrifice, as the sheep is often seen as an animal that is offered in various cultural rituals.
Meanings of 牺
xī(xi1)
1sacrifice
2to sacrifice, to give up, to die for a cause
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 牺
牺Simplified
犧Traditional
10Strokes
牛Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 牺
Podcast: 牺
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AI Study Notes for 牺
Quick Contrast
牺 (xī) vs 献 (xiàn) — use 牺 when emphasizing sacrifice for a greater cause, while 献 focuses on offering or dedicating something.
Usage Notes
The term is often used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about ethics and morality. A common mistake is to confuse 牺 with 祭 (jì), which also relates to offering but has a more specific meaning of ritual offerings. Be mindful of the tone when using it, as it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 牺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other characters related to sacrifice and morality that learners may encounter at advanced levels. Students should focus on understanding its cultural significance and usage in classical texts or moral discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 牺 in everyday contexts where simpler terms like 放弃 (fàngqì, to give up) might be more appropriate. For example, saying '我牺了我的工作' (Wǒ xīle wǒ de gōngzuò) is incorrect; it should be '我放弃了我的工作' (Wǒ fàngqìle wǒ de gōngzuò).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 牺
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Phonosemantic compound. 牛 represents the meaning and 西 represents the sound. Simplified form of 犧.
1The meaning half牛 carries the sense.
2The sound half西 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayox
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 牺? 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 牺?
Decomposition of 牺
IDS Structure⿰牛西
牺Full Character
=
牛Niu2
left
西Xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 牺?
How to say sacrifice in Chinese
“sacrifice” in Chinese is牺xī
The character 牺 (xī) means 'to sacrifice' or 'to give up something valuable for a greater cause or purpose.' It is commonly used in contexts related to selflessness, such as martyrdom or making sacrifices for the benefit of others. The usage often carries a sense of nobility and purpose, especially in cultural or historical discussions.
When to use 牺
The term is often used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about ethics and morality. A common mistake is to confuse 牺 with 祭 (jì), which also relates to offering but has a more specific meaning of ritual offerings. Be mindful of the tone when using it, as it can change the meaning.
牺 or something close to it
牺 (xī) vs 献 (xiàn) — use 牺 when emphasizing sacrifice for a greater cause, while 献 focuses on offering or dedicating something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 牺 in everyday contexts where simpler terms like 放弃 (fàngqì, to give up) might be more appropriate. For example, saying '我牺了我的工作' (Wǒ xīle wǒ de gōngzuò) is incorrect; it should be '我放弃了我的工作' (Wǒ fàngqìle wǒ de gōngzuò).
Write 牺
牺
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Practice writing 牺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 牺
牺 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
