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舄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舄xìshoe, the sole of a shoe; magpiezg, 12 strokes, radical 臼
舄xìslipperunknown, 12 strokes, radical 臼
xì(xi4)xi T4
  1. 1shoe, the sole of a shoe; magpie
  2. 2slipper
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March 24, 2026

舄xì(xi4)

The character 舄 (xì) primarily refers to a type of shoe, particularly a slipper or sandal. It can also denote the sole of a shoe and is sometimes associated with the magpie, a bird known for its distinct black and white coloring. This character is less commonly used in modern Mandarin, often appearing in literary or historical contexts.

Strokes12Radical臼
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, footwear often carries symbolic meanings, such as representing status or social standing. Certain types of shoes, like those made from silk or embroidered, were historically worn by nobility.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'shoe' (舄) that makes a sound like 'xi' when you step into it. The character has a radical '舌' (tongue) that can remind you of the 'sole' of the shoe, while the top part suggests something flat. Visualize a flat shoe making a tongue-like sound as you walk.

Meanings of 舄

xì(xi4)
1shoe, the sole of a shoe; magpie
2slipper
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 舄

舄Simplified
12Strokes
臼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 舄

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AI study notes for 舄

Usage Notes

舄 (xì) is seldom used in everyday conversation and is more likely found in classical texts or poetry. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoe' in a broader sense. Pay attention to its specific use for slippers or soles.

HSK Study Tips

Although 舄 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to HSK Level 3 words like 鞋 (xié) and 靴 (xuē), which also pertain to footwear. Focus on recognizing 舄 in literary texts to enhance your reading comprehension skills in classical Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舄 with 鞋 (xié), mistakenly using 舄 when they mean 'shoe' in general contexts. For instance, saying '我买了一个舄' (I bought a shoe) should be corrected to '我买了一个鞋'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舄

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Etymology of 舄

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a bird with its two wings opened. Based on the original meaning "magpie", now written as 鵲. The current meaning "shoe" is a phonetic loan.

Memory hint

A magpie; compare 鳥

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 舄?

Decomposition of 舄

IDS Structure⿱臼⿹勹灬
舄Full character
=
臼jiu4
top
勹bao1
enclosing
灬huo3
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 舄?

How to say shoe, the sole of a shoe; magpie in Chinese

“shoe, the sole of a shoe; magpie” in Chinese is舄xì

The character 舄 (xì) primarily refers to a type of shoe, particularly a slipper or sandal. It can also denote the sole of a shoe and is sometimes associated with the magpie, a bird known for its distinct black and white coloring. This character is less commonly used in modern Mandarin, often appearing in literary or historical contexts.

When to use 舄

舄 (xì) is seldom used in everyday conversation and is more likely found in classical texts or poetry. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 鞋 (xié), which means 'shoe' in a broader sense. Pay attention to its specific use for slippers or soles.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 舄 with 鞋 (xié), mistakenly using 舄 when they mean 'shoe' in general contexts. For instance, saying '我买了一个舄' (I bought a shoe) should be corrected to '我买了一个鞋'.

Write 舄

舄

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

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Word Family of 舄

Words containing this character1
舄xìshoe

Frequently asked questions about 舄

No, 舄 is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more likely to be found in literary or historical contexts.

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