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髹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
髹xiūred lacquer; to lacquerg, 16 strokes, radical 髟
xiū(xiu1) T1
  1. 1red lacquer; to lacquer
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

髹xiū(xiu1)

髹 (xiū) refers to the process of applying a red lacquer, often used in the context of traditional Chinese crafts and decoration. This character can denote both the action of lacquering and the resulting lacquered surface, particularly in artistic or ceremonial contexts. It is commonly associated with the preservation of woodwork and the beautification of surfaces.

Strokes16Radical髟
Cultural Note

髹 is significant in Chinese history, particularly in the art of lacquerware which dates back thousands of years. This art form is not only a decorative technique but also a reflection of cultural heritage, often seen in ancient artifacts and modern art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a craftsman with a brush coated in vibrant red lacquer, meticulously painting a beautiful wooden artifact. The character 髹 has a radical that resembles a brush, connecting it to artistry and craftsmanship. The 'xiū' pronunciation can remind you of 'shoe'—imagine your shoes getting a glossy red lacquer finish!

Meanings of 髹

xiū(xiu1)
1red lacquer; to lacquer
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 髹

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

Podcast: 髹

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Podcast: 髹

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AI Study Notes for 髹

Usage Notes

髹 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to art and craftsmanship. Learners often confuse it with similar sounding terms; pay attention to its unique pronunciation and contextual usage. Common collocations include 髹漆 (xiūqī, lacquer) and it is often used in discussions about traditional Chinese art forms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 髹 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of cultural terms related to art. Focus on connecting it with other related terms like 漆 (qī, lacquer) to build a more robust vocabulary around traditional Chinese crafts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 髹 in casual contexts where simpler terms would suffice. For example, using 髹 to describe painting a wall instead of crafting a lacquered surface is incorrect; the correct term in that case would be 涂 (tú, to paint).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 髹

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Etymology of 髹

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

hair

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 髹

  1. 1The meaning half髟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half休 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayhair
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 髹? 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 髹?

Decomposition of 髹

IDS Structure⿱髟休
髹Full Character
=
髟biao1
top
休Xiu1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 髹?

How to say red lacquer; to lacquer in Chinese

“red lacquer; to lacquer” in Chinese is髹xiū

髹 (xiū) refers to the process of applying a red lacquer, often used in the context of traditional Chinese crafts and decoration. This character can denote both the action of lacquering and the resulting lacquered surface, particularly in artistic or ceremonial contexts. It is commonly associated with the preservation of woodwork and the beautification of surfaces.

When to use 髹

髹 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to art and craftsmanship. Learners often confuse it with similar sounding terms; pay attention to its unique pronunciation and contextual usage. Common collocations include 髹漆 (xiūqī, lacquer) and it is often used in discussions about traditional Chinese art forms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 髹 in casual contexts where simpler terms would suffice. For example, using 髹 to describe painting a wall instead of crafting a lacquered surface is incorrect; the correct term in that case would be 涂 (tú, to paint).

Write 髹

髹

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

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Word Family of 髹

Words Containing This Character1
髹xiūred lacquer
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 髹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 髹

髹 specifically refers to the act of lacquering, often with red lacquer, while 漆 refers to lacquer in general, which can include various colors and types.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 髹?

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.