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March 24, 2026
馗kuí(kui2)
The character 馗 (kuí) primarily refers to a 'cheekbone' but can also denote a 'path' or 'intersection' where roads meet. It is often used in contexts related to facial features or to describe crossroads metaphorically, highlighting connections or decisions in life.
Strokes11Radical首Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'crossroads' is often linked to significant life decisions, symbolizing the choices one must make throughout life, akin to how paths diverge.
Memory Tip
Imagine a road (口) intersecting at a cheekbone (米), forming a 'crossroad' where paths meet. The sound 'kuí' can remind you of 'quay', a place where boats dock, similar to how roads connect people.
Meanings of 馗
kuí(kui2)
1cheekbone; path, road, intersection
2crossroads
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 馗
馗Simplified
11Strokes
首Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 馗
Podcast: 馗
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AI Study Notes for 馗
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a road (口) intersecting at a cheekbone (米), forming a 'crossroad' where paths meet. The sound 'kuí' can remind you of 'quay', a place where boats dock, similar to how roads connect people.
Usage Notes
This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it somewhat formal or literary. Be cautious with its usage in contexts related to anatomy versus metaphorical intersections, as this may lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 馗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to words that describe body parts (like 面, 'face') and directions (like 路, 'road'). Focus on the context of usage to differentiate meanings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'crossroads' is often linked to significant life decisions, symbolizing the choices one must make throughout life, akin to how paths diverge.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 馗 with similar characters like 魁 (kuí), which means 'leader' or 'first'. It's important to remember that 馗 has a more specific reference to anatomical features or intersections.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馗
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Cultural Notes for 馗
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'crossroads' is often linked to significant life decisions, symbolizing the choices one must make throughout life, akin to how paths diverge.
Word Family of 馗
Words Containing This Character2
馗kuíhigh
钟馗(fig.) a person with the courage to fight against evil鍾馗
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 馗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 馗
It specifically refers to the cheekbone, highlighting a feature of the face.
It's more likely to appear in literary contexts rather than in casual speech.
Context is key; consider whether the discussion is about physical features or metaphorical intersections.
