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獬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
獬xièmythical unicornx, 16 strokes, radical 犭
xiè(xie4) T4
  1. 1mythical unicorn
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

獬xiè(xie4)

The character 獬 (xiè) refers to a mythical creature often likened to a unicorn, known for its purity and ability to discern right from wrong. It is commonly associated with the character 獬豸 (xièzhì), which represents a legendary animal that symbolizes justice and moral integrity in Chinese culture.

Strokes16Radical犭
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the 獬豸 is often depicted as a creature that can identify guilt and innocence, reflecting the country's historical emphasis on justice and moral clarity. It is sometimes referenced in discussions about law and governance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a unicorn with a sharp horn that can pierce through lies and reveal the truth. The character 獬 resembles a combination of the radical for 'beast' (犭) and a unique horn shape, reinforcing its meaning as a creature associated with righteousness.

Meanings of 獬

xiè(xie4)
1mythical unicorn
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 獬

獬Simplified
16Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 獬

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Podcast: 獬

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AI Study Notes for 獬

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, as it pertains more to mythological contexts. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more common in literary or historical texts than in modern language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 獬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enrich your knowledge of Chinese mythology and culture. Focus on its connection to other characters related to animals (like 犬) and moral concepts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 獬 with other similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and meaning. For example, using it interchangeably with characters for common animals like 狗 (gǒu) is incorrect; 獬 specifically refers to a mythical creature.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 獬

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Etymology of 獬

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

animal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 獬

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half解 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayanimal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 獬? 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 獬?

Decomposition of 獬

IDS Structure⿰犭解
獬Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
解jie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 獬?

How to say mythical unicorn in Chinese

“mythical unicorn” in Chinese is獬xiè

The character 獬 (xiè) refers to a mythical creature often likened to a unicorn, known for its purity and ability to discern right from wrong. It is commonly associated with the character 獬豸 (xièzhì), which represents a legendary animal that symbolizes justice and moral integrity in Chinese culture.

When to use 獬

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, as it pertains more to mythological contexts. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, and note that it is more common in literary or historical texts than in modern language.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 獬 with other similar characters due to its unique pronunciation and meaning. For example, using it interchangeably with characters for common animals like 狗 (gǒu) is incorrect; 獬 specifically refers to a mythical creature.

Write 獬

獬

Practice writing 獬 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 獬

Words Containing This Character1
獬xièXiezhi, mythical Chinese unicorn
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 獬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 獬

It is not commonly used in daily conversation and is mostly found in literary or historical contexts.

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