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貔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
貔pífox, leopard, panthern, 17 strokes, radical 豸
pí(pi2) T2
  1. 1fox, leopard, panther
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

貔pí(pi2)

The character 貔 (pí) refers to a mythical creature resembling a combination of a fox and a leopard, often associated with protection and wealth in Chinese folklore. It is commonly seen in the term 貔貅 (píxiū), which represents a composite creature believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune.

Strokes17Radical豸
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the 貔貅 is often placed in homes or businesses as a guardian figure believed to bring wealth and success. Statues of this creature are popular feng shui items, symbolizing prosperity.

Memory Tip

Think of 貔 as a 'fox leaping' (the left component resembles a fox's tail while the right suggests agility). Imagine this creature leaping through the forest, guarding treasure and scaring away bad luck, making it a protector of wealth.

Meanings of 貔

pí(pi2)
1fox, leopard, panther
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 貔

貔Simplified
17Strokes
豸Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 貔

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Podcast: 貔

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 貔

Usage Notes

While 貔 is less commonly used on its own, it appears predominantly in the term 貔貅 (píxiū), which is widely recognized. Be cautious of tone; the correct pronunciation is essential for clear communication, especially in conversation about folklore.

HSK Study Tips

Though 貔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students should recognize it within the context of mythological terms. It connects to HSK vocabulary related to animals and folklore, so focus on understanding its usage in compound words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 貔 with other similar-sounding characters; for example, they might mistakenly write it as 皮 (pí), which means 'skin.' Always remember that 貔 refers to the mythical creature, while 皮 does not have this connotation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 貔

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Etymology of 貔

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

beast

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 貔

  1. 1The meaning half豸 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half比 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybeast
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 貔? 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 貔?

Decomposition of 貔

IDS Structure⿰豸⿱囟比
貔Full Character
=
豸zhi4
left
囟xin4
top
比Bi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 貔?

How to say fox, leopard, panther in Chinese

“fox, leopard, panther” in Chinese is貔pí

The character 貔 (pí) refers to a mythical creature resembling a combination of a fox and a leopard, often associated with protection and wealth in Chinese folklore. It is commonly seen in the term 貔貅 (píxiū), which represents a composite creature believed to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune.

When to use 貔

While 貔 is less commonly used on its own, it appears predominantly in the term 貔貅 (píxiū), which is widely recognized. Be cautious of tone; the correct pronunciation is essential for clear communication, especially in conversation about folklore.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 貔 with other similar-sounding characters; for example, they might mistakenly write it as 皮 (pí), which means 'skin.' Always remember that 貔 refers to the mythical creature, while 皮 does not have this connotation.

Write 貔

貔

Practice writing 貔 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 貔

Words Containing This Character2
貔貅also written 辟邪
貔píalso written 辟邪
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 貔貅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 貔

The 貔 is viewed as a powerful protector against evil and a symbol of wealth, often depicted in art and sculpture.

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