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獬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
獬xièmythical unicornx, 16 strokes, radical 犭
xiè(xie4)xie T4
  1. 1mythical unicorn
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March 24, 2026

獬xiè(xie4)

The character 獬 (xiè) refers to a mythical creature often likened to a unicorn, known for its purity and ability to discern right from wrong. It is commonly associated with the character 獬豸 (xièzhì), which represents a legendary animal that symbolizes justice and moral integrity in Chinese culture.

Strokes16Radical犭
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the 獬豸 is often depicted as a creature that can identify guilt and innocence, reflecting the country's historical emphasis on justice and moral clarity. It is sometimes referenced in discussions about law and governance.

Memory tip

Imagine a unicorn with a sharp horn that can pierce through lies and reveal the truth. The character 獬 resembles a combination of the radical for 'beast' (犭) and a unique horn shape, reinforcing its meaning as a creature associated with righteousness.

Meanings of 獬

xiè(xie4)
1mythical unicorn
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 獬

獬Simplified
16Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 獬

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AI study notes for 獬

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, as it pertains more to mythological contexts. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more common in literary or historical texts than in modern language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 獬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of Chinese mythology and culture. Focus on its connection to other characters related to animals (like 犬) and moral concepts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 獬 with other similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and meaning. For example, using it interchangeably with characters for common animals like 狗 (gǒu) is incorrect; 獬 specifically refers to a mythical creature.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 獬

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Etymology of 獬

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

animal

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

Origin

獬 = 犭 + 解. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 獬

IDS Structure⿰犭解
獬Full character
=
犭quan3
left
解jie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 獬?

How to say mythical unicorn in Chinese

“mythical unicorn” in Chinese is獬xiè

The character 獬 (xiè) refers to a mythical creature often likened to a unicorn, known for its purity and ability to discern right from wrong. It is commonly associated with the character 獬豸 (xièzhì), which represents a legendary animal that symbolizes justice and moral integrity in Chinese culture.

When to use 獬

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, as it pertains more to mythological contexts. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more common in literary or historical texts than in modern language.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 獬 with other similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and meaning. For example, using it interchangeably with characters for common animals like 狗 (gǒu) is incorrect; 獬 specifically refers to a mythical creature.

Write 獬

獬

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

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Word Family of 獬

Words containing this character1
獬xièXiezhi, mythical Chinese unicorn

Frequently asked questions about 獬

It is not commonly used in daily conversation and is mostly found in literary or historical contexts.

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