Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
螭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
螭chīcruel; a young dragong, 16 strokes, radical 虫
螭chīdragon with horns not yet grown (in myth or heraldry)unknown, 16 strokes, radical 虫
chī(chi1) T1
  1. 1cruel; a young dragon
  2. 2dragon with horns not yet grown (in myth or heraldry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

螭chī(chi1)

The character 螭 (chī) primarily refers to a young dragon or a dragon that has not yet developed its horns, often associated with mythological contexts. It can also denote cruelty, adding a layer of meaning related to fierceness or aggression in certain usages. This character is less common in everyday language and may be found in literary or historical texts.

Strokes16Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese mythology, dragons are revered as powerful and auspicious creatures, and the term 螭 often appears in tales or heraldic symbols representing strength and nobility. Understanding this character enhances appreciation for the role of dragons in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a young dragon (like 螭) that has not yet grown its majestic horns, representing its potential for cruelty and fierceness. The character 螭 resembles a dragon's tail, and the 'chī' sound can remind you of a fierce dragon's roar.

Meanings of 螭

chī(chi1)
1cruel; a young dragon
2dragon with horns not yet grown (in myth or heraldry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 螭

螭Simplified
16Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 螭

JasonAmy

Podcast: 螭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 螭

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in modern conversational Mandarin, making it primarily relevant in literary or historical contexts. Be cautious of its formal nature; it's best to use it in writing rather than speaking. Common collocations include mythological references or descriptions of fierce attributes.

HSK Study Tips

As an advanced character, 螭 is not included in the HSK levels, but understanding it can enhance your grasp of mythological themes in Chinese literature. Focus on recognizing its components and how they relate to dragons and mythology, as this can enrich your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 螭 with other dragon characters like 龙 (lóng), which refers to an adult dragon. Ensure you understand the distinction and context, as using 螭 incorrectly could lead to confusion in meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 螭

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 螭 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 螭

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

worm

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)离
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 螭

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half离 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayworm
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 螭? 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 螭?

Decomposition of 螭

IDS Structure⿰虫离
螭Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
离chi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 螭?

How to say cruel; a young dragon in Chinese

“cruel; a young dragon” in Chinese is螭chī

The character 螭 (chī) primarily refers to a young dragon or a dragon that has not yet developed its horns, often associated with mythological contexts. It can also denote cruelty, adding a layer of meaning related to fierceness or aggression in certain usages. This character is less common in everyday language and may be found in literary or historical texts.

When to use 螭

This character is rarely used in modern conversational Mandarin, making it primarily relevant in literary or historical contexts. Be cautious of its formal nature; it's best to use it in writing rather than speaking. Common collocations include mythological references or descriptions of fierce attributes.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 螭 with other dragon characters like 龙 (lóng), which refers to an adult dragon. Ensure you understand the distinction and context, as using 螭 incorrectly could lead to confusion in meaning.

Write 螭

螭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 螭

Words Containing This Character1
螭chīmountain demon
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 螭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 螭

No, 螭 is primarily found in literary contexts and is not used in everyday conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 螭?

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.